Bobby McMann sustained a lower-body injury but it appears as though he's on the mend and could make his way back sooner rather than later. After missing seven games with a lower-body injury, Bobby McMann returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup on Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed the news before the team's optional morning skate inside Little Caesars Arena. He and McMann said after practice on Friday the hope is that the 28-year-old returns to the lineup against Detroit. McMann skated on Toronto's third line [https://x.com/nickbarden/status/1867617561954988219] alongside Fraser Minten and Max Domi on Friday. The forward hasn't played since Nov. 27 against the Florida Panthers, where he suffered a lower-body injury. McMann admitted that he felt the pain come after overstretching while skating. "I just overstretched on a stride and just felt it through my groin. I think I just overexerted on something." The Maple Leafs sent Nikita Grebenkin to the Marlies to activate McMann off of injured reserve. McMann has six goals and one assist through 21 games with the Maple Leafs this season. He's played throughout Toronto's lineup, from the third line up to their top line. The Maple Leafs are 5-2 since he exited the lineup, but Toronto's head coach is excited about having the power forward back in the lineup against the Red Wings. "Another power forward in our lineup on our left side. If you look at our left side with (Matthew) Knies, (Max) Pacioretty, Bobby McMann, I love the size and the power-forward type player," Berube said. "Up and down the wings, banging bodies going to the net." McMann said on Friday that the ailment hasn't forced him to miss much time on the ice. Given that, the forward believes he won't be that far behind in adjusting back to game action on Saturday night. "The game speed is always something that takes a bit of an adjustment, but not being out that long, I don't think it'll be too hard, and I just trust it. I'll rely on what works well for me." Although it was frustrating to be on the sidelines, especially after his past with injuries, McMann's been patient. He's learned to balance coming back at the right time so that he doesn't suffer another ailment once he returns. The forward is confident he's moved past the latest injury. "You want to get back right away, but that's the hardest thing to balance with injury is trying to come back at the right time where you're not going to re-injure it. And I think that's the point where you can feel confident, you can push it," he said. "Maybe you still have a little bit of pain or maybe you're not feeling a hundred percent, but it's at the point where you're not going to re-injure it and then hurt the team anymore. Because if you're out again, then you're just hurting the team again."
