TORONTO -- Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikael Renberg's left hand became so infected this week that doctors considered amputating it to save his life.

"It could have been a lot worse, amputation to save my life, I guess,'' Renberg told the Toronto Star on Thursday.

Renberg aggravated a blister on his hand while trying to tie his skates in Edmonton on Saturday. The hand became infected and landed him in a Vancouver hospital with a 104-degree fever.

He remained in Vancouver with trainer Brent Smith after the Maple Leafs' game Tuesday night against the Canucks.

"I'm lucky I was with Brent and he was smart enough to take me to the hospital right away,'' Renberg said.

Smith stayed with Renberg in Vancouver while the team traveled to New Jersey, and returned to Toronto with the player Thursday.

"It was a little dog that bit big,'' Smith said. "We're lucky we got it under control as quickly as we did.

"The doctor said that a lot of people who come in with that condition are faced with an amputation. Both of those words -- amputation and death -- came up in the conversation.''