The forward, who missed 11 games because of an ankle injury sustained against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 9, practiced with the Maple Leafs on Monday. He has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 18 games this season.
Goalie Frederik Andersen will start the second of a back to back for Toronto, which is 4-2-0 in its past six games following a six-game winless streak (0-5-1). Andersen, who allowed four goals in the third period of a 6-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, was originally scheduled to back up Michael Hutchinson on Wednesday, but he asked coach Sheldon Keefe to play because he was not happy with how the game ended.
Nazem Kadri will return to Toronto for the first time with the Avalanche. The center, selected by the Maple Leafs with the No. 7 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, spent the first 561 games of his League career with Toronto, with 357 points (161 goals, 196 assists). He was traded to the Avalanche with defenseman Calle Rosen and a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft for center Alex Kerfoot, defenseman Tyson Barrie and a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft on July 1.
Goalie Philipp Grubauer will start for Colorado, which seeks its fourth straight win and ninth victory in 12 games (8-3-0).