Tavares missed seven games with a fractured finger but will play Tuesday vs. the Kings. Unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs struggled without their captain, going 3-2-2 while averaging 3.00 goals per game versus 4-3-1 while averaging 3.88 goals per game with him in the lineup. He'll return with seven points (3G / 4A) in eight games and will play on a line with Mitch Marner and Trevor Moore.
Muzzin missed Saturday's game in Philadelphia due to a personal matter but will play vs. his former team on Tuesday. Muzzin has amassed nine points (3G / 6A) in 14 games so far this season.
Roy returns to the NHL because Vegas starts a four-game road-trip on Tuesday but also because Alex Tuch was hurt in their last game. Roy, who scored a goal in his season debut (Oct.27), would likely take Tuch's spot in the lineup if he can't play in Columbus. During his time in the AHL, the 22-year-old centre has picked up just one assist in seven games.
The Maple Leafs were hopeful that Tavares would be able to return to the lineup on Saturday but head coach Mike Babcock ruled him out this morning. Look for the captain to return vs. the Kings on Tuesday.
Muzzin was banged up against Capitals but he won't play Saturday due to a personal reason, not injury. This is a positive development and suggests that Muzzin could be back as soon as Tuesday vs. the Kings.
Tavares has missed the last six games with a broken finger but was a full participant in the Maple Leafs' practice on Friday and he is "hopeful" to play on Saturday. Toronto went 2-2-2 without Tavares and he comes back with seven points (3G / 4A) in eight games, whenever he's healthy.
Laughton was originally expected to miss one month with a broken finger, so his move to LTIR opens up a roster spot and provides the Flyers with some cap relief. Philadelphia brought Carsen Twarnyski back from Lehigh Valley (AHL) to take Laughton's spot on the roster.
Philadelphia shuffled their roster ahead of Friday's tilt in New Jersey. Myers has four assists in six AHL games this season and recorded one goal and one assist (two points) in 21 games with Philadelphia in 2019-20.
Tavares was originally expected to miss two weeks with a broken finger and he will hit that two-week mark on Thursday. Returning to practice on Wednesday is a positive sign that he is on-track in his recovery and means he could be an option on Saturday.
Muzzin is believed to be dealing with a charley horse, so you have to think he'll be available for Saturday's game in Philadelphia. Muzzin has quietly picked up nine points (3G / 6A) in 14 games this season.
Roy scored his first career goal on Sunday but gets sent back to the AHL on Monday. The Golden Knights are off until Thursday, so this could simply be a paper move but Alex Tuch is also nearing a return to the lineup so Roy could be clearing a roster spot for him to be activated.
Laughton has enjoyed a solid start to 2019-20, registering there assists in nine games before breaking his finger on Saturday. Tyler Pitlick replaced him on Sunday and will likely continue to do so over the next month.
Tavares sustained a broken finger late in the Maple Leafs’ loss to the Capitals on Wednesday. Tavares will be out for at least two weeks and will be re-evaluated by the medical staff at that point. This is obviously a massive blow for the Maple Leafs and a rarity for Tavares, who has only missed a combined nine games over the last five seasons.
Ekman-Larsson has been held off of the ice with the flu but head coach Rick Tocchet said that he’s on “the back end of it” now, which suggests that he’ll be available for the season opener on Thursday. Arizona added some quality offensive pieces this offseason, which should help boost Ekman-Larsson’s numbers this season.
Robertson was selected with the No.53 overall pick in 2019 after scoring 27 goals with 28 assists (55 points) in 54 games with the Peterborough Petes (OHL).
Carlo was the last of the Bruins RFA’s to sign and earned himself a $2.85M AAV contract after recorded 10 points (2G / 10A) in 72 games a season ago. The 6-foot-5, 212 lbs. defenseman has become a physical shutdown defenseman that the Bruins can rely on to eat up heavy minutes (20:55 ATOI) next to Torey Krug.
McCabe appeared in less than 60 games for the second straight season, posting 14 points (4G / 10A) in 59 games in his fourth full year in Buffalo. On the defensive-side of the puck, McCabe averaged 1.7 hits and 1.7 blocked shots per game while ranking third among Sabres’ defensemen in SH TOI/gm (2:09) and fifth in total ice-time (18:57).
Lettieri spent most of the 2019 season in the AHL, ranking fourth among Hartford skaters with 48 points (23G / 25A) in 48 games. He played sparingly with the Rangers, picking up just three points (1G / 2A) in 27 games. The Rangers added some big names up front this offseason, likely pushing Lettieri back to the AHL to start 2020.
