Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano suffered a lower body injury

A rough season continues for the NHL's oldest active player.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said Saturday that defenseman Mark Giordano suffered a lower-body injury.

Keefe said Giordano may not be everyday, but long-term.

The Leafs bench boss announced after the team's morning skate that Conor Timmins was sick.

Giordano suffered the injury during Toronto's 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night. He was significantly absent from the ice Saturday and was absent during the team's open practice Friday at Nathan Phillips Field.

According to TSN's Claire Hanna, William Lagesson was skating with Giordano's defensive partner Timothy Liljegren on the team's third pair ahead of Saturday night's clash with the Ottawa Senators.

It was not the most productive 2023-24 season for Giordano. The 40-year-old specialist scored only one goal and five assists in 34 games. The former Norris Trophy winner missed 12 games in late November and early December after blocking a punt on Nov. 28 against the Florida Panthers.

Giordano's minutes have dwindled since returning from injury. While he played close to 20 minutes on a regular basis until November, the Toronto native has played more than 19 minutes twice since the start of January, averaging 15 minutes over the past seven games.

Giordano is in the final year of a two-year contract with an $800,000 AAV he signed with the Leafs in May 2022. Giordano scored 7 goals and 35 assists in 133 games with his hometown team, with a +44 plus. /minus. He also had four assists in the team's last two playoff appearances.

In 1,136 NHL games, Giordano had 156 goals and 418 assists, including 11 points in 41 postseason games.

The Maple Leafs (26-15-8) are in third place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the fourth-place Tampa Bay Lightning and 13 points behind the first-place Boston Bruins.