John Tavares was back on the ice with the Maple Leafs on Wednesday morning, and the part that stood out wasn’t just that he was there - it was where he was slotted.
At Leafs practice, head coach Jim Hiller put together a slightly altered lineup, and Tavares was part of it after missing a few weeks following a vicious on-ice collision. He is still wearing a no-contact jersey, but unlike Tuesday’s morning skate, he was a full participant in practice, taking part in drills and line rushes as he inches closer to a full return.
The setup, according to TSN’s Mark Masters, looked mostly familiar with one notable wrinkle:
Cowan - Matthews - Lettieri*
Tavares (🛑) - Paul - Nylander
Joshua - Sissons - McKenna
Duhaime - Blueger - MacEwen
McCabe - Raddysh
Rielly - Tanev
Ekman-Larsson - Stecher
Mermis
Stolarz
Bonello
*Roslovic absent (maintenance) @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/zvKQKul7aO
That second line is the interesting piece. Tavares returning in a top-six role always felt likely given Toronto’s personnel, but Nick Paul appears to be holding onto the center spot after filling in for Tavares as the second-line pivot. That leaves open the possibility that Hiller wants Tavares back on the wing rather than at center.
It would be a notable shift, even if it doesn’t amount to a dramatic overhaul. Tavares was already trending toward a lighter workload, and the Leafs could use him leaning more into his offensive game instead of carrying the full burden of a two-way center. But if Paul stays down the middle, the fit gets a little more complicated.
In that setup, Paul would be the primary forechecker on the line, with Tavares covering more of the middle and Nylander providing support. It’s a specific wrinkle, but one that could show up often enough to matter.
However it shakes out, Toronto is eager to get Tavares back. The Leafs have struggled to finish games and haven’t had enough scoring punch, and he can help in both areas even if he hasn’t started the season at a blazing pace.
Without him, Toronto has gone 5-4-0, a stretch that includes blown games against Utah and Seattle. Add Tavares to those nights, and the picture looks a lot different. Instead of a perfectly average run, the Leafs could be sitting at 7-2-0 over their last nine.
His return could come Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Have Found A Real Mitch Marner Successor
The Maple Leafs have spent plenty of time looking for the right fit beside Auston Matthews, and Jack Roslovic has at least given them a compelling answer early in the season. Slotted onto Torontos top line with Matthews and Kirill Marchenko, Roslovic has looked comfortable in an elevated role and has brought the kind of pace and finishing touch that can change the feel of a line in a hurry.
Through 17 games, Roslovic has already piled up eight goals and 10 assists, putting him on track for a career-best offensive season. The next wrinkle is how Toronto handles the line when Marchenko is ready to return from a lower-body injury, because the Leafs now have to figure out whether this alignment is a short-term spark or something worth keeping intact. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Rookie Faces A New Test As Tavares Nears Return
Gavin McKennas role has shifted again as the Maple Leafs start to get healthier, with the rookie no longer working on the top power-play group and settling into a prominent spot on the second unit. It is the kind of adjustment that comes with playing on a contender, where one lineup change can ripple through the special teams setup and force a young player to keep finding ways to stay useful.
Jim Hiller has pointed to McKennas growth, especially away from the puck, as a reason the coaching staff still trusts him in an important spot. The timing matters because John Tavares is nearing a return, and the Leafs are preparing for a familiar kind of squeeze that comes when a veteran center is ready to rejoin the mix and everyone else has to adapt around him. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Costly Dilemma In Pursuit Of Simon Edvinsson
The Maple Leafs are again being linked to a big swing on the blue line, with Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson emerging as a possible target as Toronto weighs how aggressive it wants to be. The appeal is obvious: Edvinsson is a young, high-end defender who could fit a long-term need, but any pursuit would come with the usual Toronto problem of paying a premium in both trade assets and future flexibility.
There is still no confirmation of official talks or an agreement between the clubs, but the cost of even getting into the conversation looks steep. Edvinsson is currently without a contract and is believed to be chasing a major extension, which only adds another layer to the dilemma for Toronto as it tries to decide whether the fit is worth the price. [Read more 🡒]