The Toronto Maple Leafs have activated forward Scott Laughton from injured reserve ahead of the team’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nicolas Roy has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 15.

Laughton, 31, was injured on November 8 during a home game against the Boston Bruins after taking a high hit from Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov. It was just Laughton’s second game back after missing the start of the season due to a foot injury sustained from blocking a shot in a preseason game.

Laughton appeared in 80, 82, and 78 games, respectively, in his last three seasons, so missing extended time isn’t a circumstance he’s been dealt, at least for a while. He admitted it was tough to have to sit for so many games while his team went to battle but credited the team’s staff for helping him stay in game shape.

“I’ve never been in this situation before in my career,” Laughton told reporters after morning skate on Thursday. “I’ve missed a couple of games here and there, but the last five or so years, I haven’t dealt with this. So, it’s something new to me and something that I’ve had to deal with, but you just try to stay grounded, and the staff has been, I’ve said it before, but they’ve been great with me and helping me stay ready.”

Laughton struggled to find his footing with the team after the Leafs acquired him at last season’s trade deadline, with only four points in 20 games heading into the playoffs. That said, adjusting to a new team and a new system after skating with the previous one for over a decade is a lot easier said than done. He’ll be on a line with Easton Cowan and Steven Lorentz, whom he played with in preseason before his first injury, and he’s looking forward to giving that line a boost of energy.

“We’ve chatted about it already a little bit this morning, I’m just going to find that again and continue to talk,” Laughton said. “I’ve been playing with Stevie [Lorentz] since I got here, Cowboy [Easton Cowan] has been playing with a lot of energy, and we’ve got to continue that.”

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