Leafs' Tavares week-to-week with lower-body injury, McCabe returns

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Thursday that center John Tavares is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.

However, the Maple Leafs will get some reinforcements Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, as head coach Craig Berube confirmed defenseman Jake McCabe will return to the lineup after missing four games with an upper-body injury, per The Leafs Nation's Arun Srinivasan.

Tavares exited Wednesday's practice early after getting tangled up with defenseman Chris Tanev.

Tavares, 34, is in the midst of one of his best seasons, tallying 20 goals and 22 assists through 44 contests. He's been extremely durable throughout his tenure in Toronto; he's missed more than three games in a season with the Maple Leafs just once (seven in 2019-20).

The club recalled Fraser Minten from the AHL in a corresponding move after placing Tavares on injured reserve. Minten figures to slot in as the team's third-line center, with Max Domi ascending to a top-six role while Tavares is out.

Minten, 20, tallied four points in 11 games with the Maple Leafs earlier in the season. The 2022 second-round pick has amassed five goals and five assists in 16 appearances with the Toronto Marlies.

McCabe, meanwhile, has established himself as one of Toronto's most trusted defensemen. He's recorded 11 points in 36 games this season while playing a key shutdown role, usually alongside Tanev.