Jim Hiller is moving Gavin McKenna back to the Maple Leafs' second power-play unit tonight in Utah, with John Tavares returning to the top group.
Jonas Siegel and Luke Fox both reported the change out of the morning skate.
The 18-year-old has 4 points this season, including a power-play assist.
Bumping him back down the moment Tavares walks in is the safe call, and safe isn't always smart.
It's like a substitute teacher who finally had the class paying attention, only to get sent back to the staff room the second the regular teacher returns.
This is the same teenager who hit 23.34 mph in Vegas and made a big defensive play in Colorado.
He's doing all of it on a $1,075,000 cap hit.
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John Tavares returns to the top unit after welcoming his fourth child
Tavares missed Saturday's 6-3 win in Colorado after his family welcomed its fourth child.
He has 3 points, including a power-play assist, on a $4,389,280 cap hit.
Toronto has 5 power-play goals as a team, with William Nylander scoring 2 of them.
Nylander leads the Leafs with 11 points, and Auston Matthews has 10.
Easton Cowan has chipped in a power-play goal and 2 game-winners.
Morgan Rielly runs the back end with 4 points, including a power-play assist.
How long does McKenna stay on the second unit if he keeps producing everywhere else?
Utah comes in at 4-2-0 after a 4-1 win in Buffalo.
Nick Schmaltz has 6 goals for the Mammoth, 4 of them on the power play, so special teams could swing this one.
The Leafs are also without Chris Tanev, who is on IR and out until at least Oct 19.
Sergei Bobrovsky picked up his first win of the season in Colorado, and the Leafs would love to build on it.
Toronto hosts Buffalo on Thursday and the Islanders on Saturday.
Tavares has earned his spot back. The question is how long the Leafs can keep their most dynamic teenager on the second wave before it starts to look like a waste.
Should Gavin McKenna stay on the Leafs' top power-play unit over John Tavares?
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