John Tavares Returns to the Leafs Lineup With a Plot Twist
Daily Faceoff reported: 'John Tavares is back'
is officially back in the lineup after a nine-game vacation, but he is returning with a plot twist. The former captain is sliding over to the wing.
Hearing a 36-year-old center is moving to the wing sounds like the hockey equivalent of putting your dad at first base so he does not have to run as much. But for a team sitting at 8-7-2 and seventh in the Atlantic Division, they will take whatever version of they can get.
Head coach Jim Hiller confirmed the return for Saturday night against the . is slotting in on the left side of the second line, centered by Nick Paul with on the right.
Before getting his legs taken out awkwardly against the on October 15, was actually cooking. He posted two goals and five assists in his first seven games, proving that the four-year, $4.38 million AAV extension he signed in June was not just a nostalgia trip.
The Leafs managed a perfectly mediocre 5-4-0 record during his lower-body injury absence. Getting a point-per-game producer back completely changes the math for 's top six, which is something to keep in mind if you are eyeing the over on their team totals or slotting him back into your fantasy lineups.
We will see how the wing experiment looks against , but the real test comes immediately after. has the waiting for them on Sunday to cap off a back-to-back, meaning is going to have to find his skating legs in a hurry.