The Toronto Maple Leafs will be getting a massive boost to their lineup on Saturday as veteran forward John Tavares is set to return after missing nine games with an undisclosed lower-body injury, per TSN’s Mark Masters.
According to Masters, head coach Jim Hiller confirmed the news following Saturday’s optional skate.
Tavares skated in a regular sweater on Friday after wearing a non-contact sweater in Wednesday’s session. According to Masters, Leafs captain Auston Matthews described Tavares as the best player at the team’s past two practices.
“It’s the best,” the 36-year-old Tavares said after Friday’s session. “There’s nothing like getting out there to compete with your teammates and being with the group.”
Tavares, who has produced seven points in seven games this season, skated on the left wing of the second line centered by Nick Paul with William Nylander on the right side.
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 has logged 1,273 career games in the NHL, but has spent time at left wing in fewer than 20 of those contests, and has gotten very few looks there in his nine seasons in Toronto.
The Leafs went 2-3-2 with Tavares in the lineup, and have been treading water without him, 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.”
The Maple Leafs will take on the Montreal Canadiens at home on Saturday before closing out the second half of a back-to-back against the New Jersey Devils in the annual Hockey Hall of Fame Game.