Leafs’ Tavares to return after nine-game absence

Some promising news for a Toronto Maple Leafs team that needs a jolt.

When speaking to the media, Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller announced that forward John Tavares will be in the lineup on Saturday night, when the team plays host to the Montreal Canadiens.

Tavares has missed the last nine games due to a lower-body injury that knocked him out of a game against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 15. During that time, Toronto went on a four-game win streak, but has slipped over the past week, going 5-4-0 during the former captain’s absence.

The Toronto native had been showing signs that he could come back soon, as he was taking reps on the Leafs’ top power-play unit during practice on Friday. One thing that will be different is that Tavares won’t be in his normal position. As he’s been closing in on a full bill of health, No. 91 started taking reps on the wing, playing on the left side of Toronto’s second line, centered by Nick Paul with William Nylander on the right wing.

Prior to his injury, Tavares had been one of the team’s consistent scorers through the opening weeks of the 2026-27 campaign. In seven appearances, the 36-year-old has scored two goals and five assists for seven points, with a plus/minus of -5 while averaging 16:31 of ice time.

Tavares entered the new campaign looking to make the most of his time with his hometown team, after rumors swirled that he might not return to the Leafs, even after he posted back-to-back 30-goal seasons. Yet, the team re-signed the former London Knight to a four-year contract in June, with the deal carrying an AAV of $4.38 million.

The Leafs (8-7-2) sit seventh in the Atlantic Division, two points back of a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.