The Maple Leafs held a practice at Ford Performance Centre on Friday.
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For the first time since sustaining a lower-body injury on Oct. 15, John Tavares practised in a regular sweater on Friday.
“It’s the best,” the 36-year-old said. “There’s nothing like getting out there to compete with your teammates and being with the group.”
Tavares, who took reps on the second line beside Nick Paul and William Nylander, appears poised to return to the Leafs lineup on Saturday when the Montreal Canadiens visit Scotiabank Arena.
“Everything’s pointing [in] that direction for sure,” he said.
“I would think most likely he’s going to play,” coach Jim Hiller said. “Still have to talk about it, but sure looks like it.”
Tavares, who has produced seven points in seven games this season, also participated in Wednesday’s practice, but was wearing a red, no-contact sweater.
“It was a good week to kind of be able to build myself up, different stages of rejoining the group and, yeah, just excited,” Tavares said. “Love to compete and want to help the team.”
“He’s had a similar injury before,” Hiller said. “He really knew what to expect and he knew his timelines. I don’t know if he’s ahead of schedule, but he was definitely on schedule, not behind.”
The Leafs have been treading water without Tavares, going 5-4-0.
“One of the things that we maybe struggled with is O-zone time, winning puck battles, getting to the net front,” Hiller said. “That’s what John does extremely well.”
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Before getting hurt on Oct. 15, Tavares had shifted to left wing and that’s where he projects to play on Saturday.
During the off-season, Hiller gave Tavares, a natural centre, a heads up that they may try this look.
“Always to make you aware of things, I think helps a little bit,” Tavares said of the adjustment. “Different style of game, different ice surface, but obviously that’s where I played throughout May at the World Championships. So, I’ve been there at different instances in my career in different situations.”
Tavares also got a look on the flank for six games after the Leafs acquired Ryan O’Reilly late in the 2022-23 season.
“He’s played wing here at different times,” Hiller highlighted. “Just coming off the World Championship, he played wing, so he’s pretty comfortable either way.”
Hiller is hoping playing on the wing will free up Tavares to be more dangerous offensively, although the alternate captain isn’t looking at the move in that way.
“I don’t know if I look at as ‘helping’ my game,” Tavares said when asked how the move may benefit him. “I think, naturally, I just want to go out there and be really effective and help the team. And, you know, sometimes you’re just put in different spots.”
Tavares, who is winning 60.4 per cent of his faceoffs this season, is still expected to be leaned on at the dot.
Toronto’s second line has struggled, especially since Kirill Marcenko went down with his own lower-body injury on Oct. 26. Earlier this week, Nylander admitted he has not been possessing the puck as much as he would like despite piling up 21 points this season.
Paul, meanwhile, has been limited to just two goals and four assists.
“He’s done a good job,” Hiller stressed when asked about Paul. “We’re not looking to him to create a bunch of offence there. We need him to be solid and allow the two wingers to really create the offence and make sure he’s taking care of them. Somebody has to go to the net front. You know, that’s his job too. I’m really looking forward to the line with John there. I think that will a dangerous O-zone, heavy line. That’s what I’m really looking to see from those three.”
Hiller is hoping this alignment, with two centres on the same line, will help insulate Nylander, who has been on the ice for more 5-on-5 goals against (17) than anyone on the team.
“Sometimes the wingers don’t like to play low in D-zone,” Hiller noted. “Sometimes the coaches, you know, don’t have as much trust in some wingers playing low in D-zone. So when you have two guys there, it’s usually one of those two will end up there. Likely not Willy. One of those two will end up there so, yeah, it gives us a little more confidence in that.”
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Tavares rejoined the top power-play unit at practice, which bumped rookie Gavin McKenna to the second unit.
“Power play has been pretty good for us this year with Gavin and with John,” Hiller said. “Not quite as good the last couple games so John’s back, we’ll put John there.”
Toronto failed to convert on four chances over the last two games against the Vancouver Canucks and Utah Mammoth, but is still ranked sixth overall (28.8 per cent).
McKenna led the Leafs with three power-play goals with Tavares out. He also chipped in an assist as Toronto clicked at 28 per cent (7-for-25) in the last nine games.
“I’m 18 years old,” McKenna said. “There’s a lot of guys in this team who’ve been in this league for a long time and know how to play that power play. So I think when you see a guy like John come on and take your spot, you’re not too butthurt about it. He’s obviously very smart. And, for me, even being on a second power play in the NHL, that feels pretty good.”
The second unit also features Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Easton Cowan and Paul.
“If you watch them today, the second group, whatever you want to call it, they were moving it pretty good with Easton and Gavin really kind of controlling that whole power play group,” Hiller said. “So Gavin really becomes a focus on that second group too, where the puck just really runs through him, so that’s a good thing too.”
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Jack Roslovic joined the top unit after Marchenko got hurt and is maintaining that spot.
“He’s a right shot, so I think that’s the one thing,” Hiller said. “Marchenko was the right shot, so we’re trying to keep that balance somewhat similar.”
Roslovic was also skating with the top unit before Marchenko was acquired in a blockbuster trade on the eve of the season. So, this is the alignment the team initially planned to use to start the year.
Roslovic only has two power-play assists this season, but he’s thriving at 5-on-5 with eight goals and eight assists.
“He hunts pucks,” Hiller said. “On the power play, you got to hunt pucks sometimes too. You got to get loose pucks back. And, clearly, he scored goals this year, so he’s also a threat in the middle.”
Roslovic returned to practice on Friday after missing Wednesday’s workout for what the team called a maintenance day.
“Just taking a day off,” he said. “Trying to feel my best for Saturday, Sunday.”
Roslovic has been clicking well beside centre Auston Matthews on the top line. The pair also played together during their junior days at the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
“Jack’s had great start to the year for us [and] fit in really well,” Tavares said. “Obviously him and Auston’s chemistry is really, really good. I just think he does a lot of things well. He’s really quick. He’s got great speed. He’s playing with a lot of tenacity and just getting involved everywhere. He’s just very noticeable.”
Roslovic has been among the fastest players in the NHL this season with his top speed hitting 38.14 km/h (seventh overall).
What’s the key to that speed?
“Getting pucks in the right areas,” he said. “You know, trying to be low in the breakouts and, you know, I think it’s a max effort kind of thing every night, so it’s just attributed to that.”
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The other winger on the top line, Cowan, is also off to a strong start. The second-year professional is fourth on the team with 12 even-strength points.
Cowan is reaping the rewards of a strong summer spent working with longtime trainer Trevor Williamson.
“He looks like he belongs out there,” said Williamson, who is the director, speed, strength and conditioning at the Elite Performance & Injury Centre in Komoka, Ont. “He can hold his own. He’s very quick. Like, you’re watching him just cut through people and you’re just like, ‘Oh my god, man.’ That’s so cool to see. I get flashbacks to like 14, 15-year-old Cowboy and then you’re watching him thrive in the NHL and ripping through defenders and sniping. It’s just so full circle to see that and it’s incredible.”
Cowan focused on adding strength, but maintaining speed in the summer. Williamson feels they found the perfect balance with Cowan adding about six or seven pounds over the course of the off-season.
“Honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg with him,” Williamson said. “He is one of the most motivated, down-to-earth, humble, hard-working athletes. He’s gonna have a very long and successful career if he keeps doing what he’s doing ... We already text back and forth about, like, ‘I got to keep doing this, man.’ Like, ‘A little bit more! A little bit more!’”
Williamson laughs when asked what Cowan wants more of.
“Just lifting,” he said. “Right now he’s like a little mini strength coach. He’s so funny. He’s asking me questions about all the programming and the periodization. He’s like, ‘What are we doing here? What’s the purpose of this phase? How fast do I need to move the bar?’ We’ll use velocity-based training for certain metrics or certain watts that we’re looking for and he’s just always after that.”
Cowan informed Williamson that members of the Leafs staff were impressed with some of his results in the gym.
“He’s like, ‘They were excited,’” Williamson relayed. “He’s like, ‘But next year we gotta do even better. Even better.’”
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Five of McKenna’s 11 points this season have come on the power play. He has struggled to break through at even strength generating just one point in 5-on-5 play over the last 12 games.
“There’s been ups and downs, but I thought my third period against Utah was pretty good,” he said. “I think I was pretty confident out there, making plays and stuff. So that’s one you definitely want to build on.”
McKenna is minus-six on the season, but has found a way to stop the bleeding of late. The 5-foot-11 winger has broke even in plus-minus in each of the last five games and seven of the last eight overall.
“A big thing that I’ve kind of learnt in the NHL is just structure,” McKenna said. “It’s all timing on where you’re at. You know, if you’re protecting the middle and stuff like that, it’s a lot harder. I think if I’m in those spots and I’m not giving guys easy plays to make, you know, that’ll come with success. When you play good defence, it leads to good offence. That’s something I definitely want to keep working on.”
Since being benched on Oct. 15, McKenna is averaging 13 minutes and 46 seconds of ice time per game, which is ninth among the team’s forwards.
“Gavin’s really improved without the puck,” Hiller praised. “He’s made leaps and bounds. We’re really happy with him without the puck ... We’re still working through some of the decisions with the puck at different times. But without the puck, Gavin’s made all kinds of strides and feel really good about his game.”
McKenna skated on the third line beside Colton Sissons and Dakota Joshua on Friday.
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Tavares and McKenna attended the Canada Red game against Sweden at the 2026 U17 Challenge in Oakville, Ont. on Thursday afternoon.
“My oldest [son’s] team got tickets for the game and brought my crew and asked Gav if he wanted to join,” Tavares said. “He did, so it was a lot of fun. It takes you back.”
Tavares played at the event in 2006 while McKenna suited up in 2023.
“I played in that tournament a couple years ago so to go back and watch and see where those kids are at and see where I’m at, it’s pretty cool,” the 18-year-old said. “And you know some of those kids will be following in my footsteps, so it’s pretty special.”
McKenna was particularly impressed with Regina Pats winger Liam Pue and Barrie Colts defenceman Lucas Matheson.
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Hiller declined to reveal the team’s goalie plan for the weekend.
“I’ll give you more insight on that tomorrow,” the coach grinned. “Let’s wait one more day on that.”
The Leafs host the Canadiens on Saturday before welcoming the New Jersey Devils to Scotiabank Arena on Sunday.
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Lines at Friday’s practice:
Cowan - Matthews - Roslovic
Tavares - Paul - Nylander
Joshua - Sissons - McKenna
Duhaime - Blueger - MacEwen
Lettieri
McCabe - Raddysh
Rielly - Tanev
Ekman-Larsson - Stecher
Mermis
Bobrovsky
Stolarz
Power play units at Friday’s practice:
QB: Raddysh
Flanks: Matthews, Nylander
Middle: Roslovic
Net front: TavaresQB: Rielly
Flanks: Ekman-Larson, McKenna
Middle: Cowan
Net front: Paul