Mark Masters is reporting this morning that John Tavares is practicing as a regular with the Maple Leafs, and he's back in a full sweater.
Jack Roslovic is skating again too. He missed the other day for what was called maintenance.
That's welcome news for a Toronto team that sits 8-7-2 and 17th in the NHL. It comes a few days after Jim Hiller's uncertainty about Tavares' return left the timeline hazy.
Leafslatest passed along Masters' report, noting that both centers are practicing as regulars and that Tavares is no longer in a non-contact sweater.
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The non-contact sweater is the real story here. When Tavares first got back on the ice, Tavares skating in a non-contact sweater came with a day-to-day tag and an obvious limitation. A full sweater means that limit is gone.
He's still listed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, expected to be out until at least Nov. 7. That date is an estimate, and Toronto plays the Canadiens on Saturday, so the next 24 hours matter.
Why the Maple Leafs need both centers now
Look at what Tavares has done in a small sample. He has 2 goals and 5 assists in 7 games, including a power-play goal and 3 power-play assists. That's a lot of special-teams production for a player who has barely been available.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | |
| 2026-27 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | -5 |
| Career | 1273 | 527 | 665 | 1192 | -53 |
His plus-minus tells the other side. He sits at -5, which says Toronto has been getting outscored when he's on the ice, and that's a flag for a team with a +6 goal differential overall.
Roslovic has been the bigger surprise. He has 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 17 games, and a +3 rating. Losing him even briefly would hurt, so a quick return to practice is a relief.
The Leafs come off a 3-2 loss to Utah on Tuesday, and the streak currently reads as one lost game. They're 5-4-1 in their last 10, which is mediocre but not alarming.
Getting Tavares back down the middle with Roslovic gives Hiller real options for the top six. Whether he rushes the veteran into the lineup against Montreal or waits one more game is a decision the coach hasn't announced. Saturday's lineup card will show it.
Should the Maple Leafs rush John Tavares back against the Canadiens on Saturday?
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