John Tavares has broken his silence regarding the serious injury that Leafs' Max Pacioretty suffered against the Canadiens, and it's very concerning. Veteran forward Max <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/maple-leafs-forward-max-pacioretty-leaves-game-against-his-former-team-due-to-a-scary-looking-injury' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Pacioretty of the Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a lower-body injury</a> in a victory over the <a href='https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Montreal Canadiens</a>, the second such misery this season, to throw his future with the team into uncertainty. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1855415397433868519'> </a></blockquote></div> Though some questioned the off-season signing of Pacioretty, he has quickly become a key contributor on Toronto's second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. Combined, the trio has recorded a staggering 38 points in just 16 games. But this latest ailment seemed serious, and following the game, former Leafs captain Tavares expressed frustration about the situation. You just hope the news is better than how he's feeling in the moment. It's never easy to see, Tavares said. We've obviously found some chemistry together and had some success early, so we're obviously going to miss him and what he brings to the table. The chemistry has been great between Tavares and Pacioretty, and the injury could halt the line's momentum for much longer than initially anticipated. This injury's severity calls into question Pacioretty's quick return to the lineup after he missed just three games on a day-to-day designation previously. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/topshelfhkyvids/status/1855417226096177652'> </a></blockquote></div> If he's out, <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-pacioretty-exits-game-vs-canadiens-with-lower-body-injury/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the injury to Pacioretty</a> may force the <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Maple Leafs</a> to lean on recently recalled Connor Dewar. Dewar was initially brought in to cover the team's injured captain, Auston Matthews. But that makes him even more important with Pacioretty's injury raising his stock in an effort to fill the void on the wing. A lengthy recovery would be a huge setback for Toronto. Missing Matthews already, the team's physicality and experience that Pacioretty has brought into the fold would be missing at large, the sort that has helped the Leafs get off to such a great start this season. The Toronto side will have to use other players to maintain their rhythm while covering up the loss of an experienced player on the ice as they adjust to the possible changes.