The Maple Leafs are down a trio of important forwards, but recent updates show they could be close to a return at a very crucial point in the season. Though

Tavares sustained a lower-body injury last week and Craig Berube updated the status of several Maple Leafs players.

Following a well-attended Tuesday morning practice in Toronto, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube provided an exciting update on John Tavares and Matthew Knies.

Matthew Knies joins a long list of injured Leafs that has had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the lineup.

The Montreal Canadiens recalled defenceman Jayden Struble on Wednesday. Struble, 23, has two goals and five points in 26 games with the Canadiens this season. He is without a point in two games with the AHL's Laval Rocket.

Read the recent NHL news and rumors about Max Pacioretty for fantasy hockey. Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Max Pacioretty (upper body) will be

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.

Pacioretty is projected to return to the Maple Leafs' lineup against the Wild while Knies could be back on Saturday against Edmonton.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have activated winger Max Pacioretty off of injured reserve, while also placing winger Matthew Knies on IR retroactive to January 22nd.

Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty has been activated off injured reserve, the team announced ahead of its game against Minnesota. Winger Matthew Knies was placed on IR retroactive to Jan. 22 in a corresponding move. The veteran Pacioretty has been sidelined since Jan. 18 with an upper-body injury after taking a puck to the side of the head.

Hischier, a center and New Jersey's captain, took a cross-check up high late in the second period of a 4-3 overtime win at the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday and did not play the remaining 2:10 of the period. He returned to the bench to begin the third period and was on the ice for a 36-second shift before returning to the locker room.

The Minnesota Wild last played away on January 26 against the Chicago Blackhawks. The Wild won by a score of 4-2 in regulation, and their current league record is 29-17-4 for a 0.620 Points %. Tied with the Leafs in Points %, the Wild are third in the central with a goal differential even more slight than the Leafs at +3.