Maple Leafs projected lineup vs. Blackhawks as Chris Tanev return timeline shifts

It's been a disappointing stretch for the Maple Leafs recently. After a big three-game win streak, the team has dropped two in a row including one in convincing fashion to the Oilers, losing 6-3.

They're going to be back on the ice Tuesday as they celebrate long-time broadcaster Joe Bowen throughout the night, and if anything the Maple Leafs wants to ensure they give him a win to cap off his historic celebration.

But with injuries and illnesses spreading throughout the lineup, the team is going to be needing as much firepower as possible. While they are a bit lucky with the fact they won't face Connor Bedard, they are still going to need everyone to contribute especially their stars.

So how is Craig Berube going to put his lineup together on Tuesday? Although it's just projected, this is how the team is expected to take the ice against the Blackhawks:

Knies - Matthews - Nylander
Robertson - Tavares - McMann
Joshua - Roy - Domi
Lorentz - Laughton - Cowan

Rielly - Benoit
McCabe - Stecher
OEL - Tanev

Hildeby
Woll
Akhtyamov

In an incredible turn of events, Chris Tanev is slotted in the lineup and was seen skating with the team during practice in a regular jersey. He is still awaiting a second opinion on his current status in the meantime.

Tanev has been out since Nov. 1 after being hit from behind by Philadelphia's Matvei Michkov and questions about the true nature of his injury have arisen ever since.

Toronto needs to be careful with Tanev, and from the sounds of it - that's exactly what they intend to do this time around.

Yet despite being on the ice and slotted on a line with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, it appears that Tanev's return to the ice is delayed just a bit longer.

According to head coach Craig Berube, Tanev will not be in the lineup for Tuesday, although the team may see Joseph Woll back in the lineup though not necessarily as a starter.

But he was certainly optimistic about Tanev returning before the Christmas break:

There is no guarantee that Tanev will return by the break, and with a slate of five games in eight days including a back-to-back; bringing him in so soon may be an issue.

It's indirectly the cause of this new injury too. Tanev originally suffered an injury on Oct. 21 when he bumped heads with New Jersey's Dawson Mercer, and was out for a week or so.

Then he was brought back (perhaps a bit prematurely) and got blindsided by Michkov. While it's not guaranteed that Tanev would have avoided injury upon his return; giving him a few extra days to get to 100% wouldn't have been a bad idea regardless of the team's performance at the time (they were only 3-2-1).

It's unfortunate that Tanev won't skate against Chicago, but it's for the best. Toronto can't risk losing him for a third time and with that risk being potentially the entire season, they need to let him come back when he's able to, not when they want him to.