Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander returned to practice after the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament concluded Thursday. Nylander and Sweden were <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/usa-sweden-takeaways-ersson-outduels-hellebuyck-werenskis-mvp-injuries-pile-up">eliminated Monday</a>, but Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube allowed his star winger to return to the team at his own pace.
Nylander was placed on a line alongside Bobby McMann and John Tavares, which will operate as Toronto&#8217;s second line entering Saturday&#8217;s contest against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old has recorded 33 goals and 55 points in 55 games for the Maple Leafs this season.
Matthew Knies was placed alongside Calle Jarnkrok and Alex Steeves, who were filling in for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Jarnkrok has been ruled out of Saturday&#8217;s game against the Hurricanes and Sunday&#8217;s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Berube confirmed via <a href="https://x.com/nickbarden/status/1892993101079228661">Nick Barden of The Hockey News</a>.
Marner <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-shines-biggest-stage-silencing-clutch-narrative">was outstanding</a> in Thursday&#8217;s 4 Nations Faceoff final, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-reflects-connor-mcdavid-golden-goal-hoisting-trophy">setting up Connor McDavid&#8217;s golden goal</a> as Canada emerged with a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/7-takeaways-from-canada-usa-mcdavid-gets-iconic-moment-marner-outstanding-playmaker">3-2 victory over the United States</a>. Matthews recorded <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-looks-back-captaining-usa-4-nations-face-off-im-super-proud-of-this-group">two assists in the losing effort</a>.
&#8220;You got somebody that’s going to go in and play?” Berube said Thursday, with a laugh. “As of right now they’re playing. These are big games.&#8221;
Berube previously stated <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/berube-no-intention-resting-matthews-marner-weekend-predicts-4-nations-faceoff-final">that he expects Marner and Matthews to play Saturday</a> against the Hurricanes, and it appears that he&#8217;s reuniting his star forwards with Knies. Max Domi, who was playing alongside Knies and Matthews during Toronto&#8217;s west coast road trip in February, was placed on a line with Pontus Holmberg and Nick Robertson. Steven Lorentz, David Kampf and Connor Dewar formed the fourth line, while Ryan Reaves took reps as an extra defenceman.
At the time of this filing, it&#8217;s unclear who will start in goal for the Maple Leafs. Anthony Stolarz returned to action on February 7 with an <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/knee-jerk-reaction-anthony-stolarz-excellent-return-leafs-victory-kraken">excellent performance against the Seattle Kraken</a>, while Joseph Woll has operated as the team&#8217;s No. 1 goaltender for the majority of the year, posting a 19-11-0 record in 30 appearances with a .909 save percentage.
<h3>Maple Leafs&#8217; projected lineup vs. Hurricanes</h3>
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander
Max Domi-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Connor Dewar 
Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins 
Joseph Woll
Anthony Stolarz 
&nbsp;

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander returned to practice after the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament concluded Thursday. Nylander and Sweden were <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/usa-sweden-takeaways-ersson-outduels-hellebuyck-werenskis-mvp-injuries-pile-up">eliminated Monday</a>, but Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube allowed his star winger to return to the team at his own pace.

Nylander was placed on a line alongside Bobby McMann and John Tavares, which will operate as Toronto's second line entering Saturday's contest against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old has recorded 33 goals and 55 points in 55 games for the Maple Leafs this season.

Matthew Knies was placed alongside Calle Jarnkrok and Alex Steeves, who were filling in for Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Jarnkrok has been ruled out of Saturday's game against the Hurricanes and Sunday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Berube confirmed via <a href="https://x.com/nickbarden/status/1892993101079228661">Nick Barden of The Hockey News</a>.

Marner <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-shines-biggest-stage-silencing-clutch-narrative">was outstanding</a> in Thursday's 4 Nations Faceoff final, <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-reflects-connor-mcdavid-golden-goal-hoisting-trophy">setting up Connor McDavid's golden goal</a> as Canada emerged with a <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/7-takeaways-from-canada-usa-mcdavid-gets-iconic-moment-marner-outstanding-playmaker">3-2 victory over the United States</a>. Matthews recorded <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-looks-back-captaining-usa-4-nations-face-off-im-super-proud-of-this-group">two assists in the losing effort</a>.

"You got somebody that’s going to go in and play?” Berube said Thursday, with a laugh. “As of right now they’re playing. These are big games."

Berube previously stated <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/berube-no-intention-resting-matthews-marner-weekend-predicts-4-nations-faceoff-final">that he expects Marner and Matthews to play Saturday</a> against the Hurricanes, and it appears that he's reuniting his star forwards with Knies. Max Domi, who was playing alongside Knies and Matthews during Toronto's west coast road trip in February, was placed on a line with Pontus Holmberg and Nick Robertson. Steven Lorentz, David Kampf and Connor Dewar formed the fourth line, while Ryan Reaves took reps as an extra defenceman.

At the time of this filing, it's unclear who will start in goal for the Maple Leafs. Anthony Stolarz returned to action on February 7 with an <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/knee-jerk-reaction-anthony-stolarz-excellent-return-leafs-victory-kraken">excellent performance against the Seattle Kraken</a>, while Joseph Woll has operated as the team's No. 1 goaltender for the majority of the year, posting a 19-11-0 record in 30 appearances with a .909 save percentage.
<h3>Maple Leafs' projected lineup vs. Hurricanes</h3>
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander

Max Domi-Pontus Holmberg-Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Connor Dewar 

Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev

Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins 

Joseph Woll

Anthony Stolarz 

&nbsp;

Nylander returns to practice, Jarnkrok ruled out for weekend, Knies-Matthews-Marner may be reunited

Steven Lorentz is expecting a war against his former team in Round 2

Matthew Knies had a feeling his game would grow under Craig Berube

How Scott Laughton proved his value to Maple Leafs in Round 1 vs. Senators

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