Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares has resumed skating and could return to practice by the end of this week, head coach Craig Berube told Joshua Kloke of The Athletic on Monday.

On Friday's latest episode of the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast with Ryan Whitney, Paul Bissonnette, and Keith Yandle, Laine shared the story and more insight into his ‘welcome to the league’ moment by being on the receiving end of the hardest hit he’s ever taken in the NHL.

Squaring off with nearly identical records entering Wednesday’s contest, the Toronto Maple Leafs were presented with a key opportunity to get out of a rut against a quality Minnesota Wild team, with a four-game road trip on the horizon before the 4 Nations Face-Off break.

You can look to John Tavares and Matthew Knies’ imminent returns and hope they can spark the lineup, but this is still a team with Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner. Offence should not be this difficult and they have the raw talent to at least make games interesting. Tonight was far from it.

Leafs winger William Nylander, who scored the only goal against the Wild and also hit the crossbar on a breakaway, said Toronto's tendency to use of five forwards on the power play has contributed to Rielly's dip.

“It can be the most random time in the summer and no matter what, you’ll see 'RR' pop up on your phone,” Nick Robertson said. Every group chat needs an instigator; someone to keep the dialogue alive during low points. On and off the ice, Reaves fills that role.

The Washington Capitals signed goalie Logan Thompson to a six-year extension. Follow this tracker for the latest NHL news.

The Seattle Kraken will send Philipp Grubauer to the American Hockey League if he clears waivers. Follow this tracker for the latest NHL news.

The Maple Leafs’ annual outdoor practice — which took place is Shanahan’s old stomping grounds — provided a chance to fans to get close to their heroes and a nice break from a relentless practice-game-fly schedule.

A timeline for the injured centre’s return from a lower-body injury is starting to come into focus, Mark Masters writes.

With the Vancouver Canucks needing to get rid of J.T. Miller, and Toronto needing that impact forward, one Insider thinks the two could make a blockbuster trade.

All season, the Maple Leafs have managed to keep the plane in the air minus a couple of main engines and iced-up wings.