Toronto Maple Leafs forwards John Tavares and Calle Jarnkrok formally returned to practice Wednesday after dealing with lower-body injuries. Both players were previously listed as day-to-day.
Tavares collided with Montreal Canadiens forward Michael Pezzetta during the first period of Thursday’s preseason game but remained in the contest. He played fewer shifts during the third period and told reporters post-game that he was dealing with some stiffness in his leg.
“My leg was getting pretty stiff from the hit there I took there in the first,” Tavares said Thursday night. “It wasn’t so bad afterwards but kinda throughout the second, and especially in the third, I just got really, really stiff. I didn’t have much and I told Craig to keep it short, but he was determined to give me the rest of the night off.”
Tavares also took reps on Toronto’s first power play unit, where he remains a mainstay in the four-forward, one-defenceman set up.
Jarnkrok has been getting work in throughout the week during informal scenarios and his return to practice is a positive development for the Maple Leafs, who are working towards finalizing their optimal lineup ahead of the October 9 season opener against the Canadiens. The 33-year-old was initially paired alongside Max Domi and William Nylander and the Maple Leafs appear likely to roll out this line during the early stages of the season.
Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar returned to practice with the main group for the first time during camp. Hakanpaa has been working his way back through a knee injury that ended his 2023-24 campaign with the Dallas Stars and he will almost certainly start the year on long-term injured reserve.
Dewar underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason and it appears unlikely that he will be ready to go for opening night. The 25-year-old re-signed with the Maple Leafs on a one-year deal worth $1.18 million on July 23.
