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

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.

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

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Connor Dewar did not take part in the club's practice and will not be in the lineup for his team hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, either.The forward sustained an upper-body injury in Toronto's 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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

Forward John Tavares has resumed skating at the team’s facility and could return to practice by the end of this week, head coach Craig Berube told reporters Monday.

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

The Maple Leafs might have to find a way out of their losing streak without John Tavares. Toronto’s second-line centre departed practice on Wednesday at the Ford Performance Centre after he got tangled up with defenceman Chris Tanev.

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.

Tavares exited Wednesday's practice early and is being evaluated, per David Alter of The Hockey News.

Some new lines for the Maple Leafs could indicate that the team is attempting to showcase veteran forward Max Domi ahead of the trade deadline. On Wednesday, we saw the Maple Leafs get thumped by the Columbus Blue Jackets,

The Maple Leafs need to upgrade prior to the trade deadline and while Brad Treliving isn’t likely to drastically overhaul his roster in the next six weeks, there are noticeable areas for improvement as well some potential fat that can be cut.