Auston Matthews returned to practice and nearly took part in a full session. The question is how much longer? The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to practice on Monday at the Ford Performance Centre following a day off on Sunday as the club prepares for the first game of a home-and-home with the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] beginning on New Year’s Eve. A notable absence from the session was veteran defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who missed Monday’s practice due to an illness, the Leafs confirmed on X [https://x.com/LeafsPR/status/1873760721772921271]. Ekman-Larsson has been a mainstay in the Maple Leafs' lineup, appearing in all 37 games this season. The 33-year-old, in his first campaign with Toronto, has contributed one goal and 12 assists for a total of 13 points. His reliability has held great value for a Maple Leafs team that’s battled the injury bug over the past month. When asked about Ekman-Larsson’s availability against the Islanders, head coach Craig Berube remained noncommittal: “Well, we'll have to see how he's feeling. Kind of play that one by ear right now,” Berube said after practice. Should Ekman-Larsson be unable to suit up, it would mark his first missed game of the season – with his status likely being determined closer to game time on Tuesday. DAVID KAMPF MOVES UP TO SECOND LINE Forward David Kampf was promoted to the second line during Monday's practice. Kampf centered a line with Matthew Knies and William Nylander, taking over a spot previously occupied by Pontus Holmberg. Holmberg, in turn, shifted to the fourth-line center role. Berube explained the rationale behind the change, emphasizing balance across four lines as the key factor: “Yeah, well, I know I had Kampf up there before and then I moved Holmer up there. Just trying to find a little bit more balance there with that line,” said Berube. “I like Domi's line right now. They're producing for us, you know, so I didn't want to break them up. And that's all. I'm just trying to find something to go up there in that hole.” The 29-year-old recently scored his first goal of the season during his 500th NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/]. On the season, Kampf has registered one goal, four assists, and five points. His move to the second line reflects Berube’s trust in his ability to provide balance in the top six. Holmberg, who now anchors the fourth line, has two goals and four assists for six points this season but has not registered a point since December 10 in a game against the New Jersey Devils [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/]. Kampf, by comparison, has tallied two points in his last four games, showcasing a slight uptick in his offensive contributions. The Leafs, who dropped a 6-3 contest on December 21 to the Islanders, are anticipating a tight game against a New York team known for their structured, defensive style and opportunistic scoring. Berube knows that Toronto will need to bring a balanced effort to secure a better result this time around. “We know what they are,” said Berube. “They've been a certain way for quite some time as a team. Their identity of how they play. They're a patient team. They don't give you a ton. You know, you've got to earn your chances. It's important for us not to get impatient. We've got to stay with it. And, you know, it could be a real tight game.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExNjM5NDEwNTc4NDM0MDI0/googlenews.svg] Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwytvfCA?ceid=CA:en&oc=3] to never miss a story.
