Calle Jarnkrok will need a couple more practices before he returns to the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup.
The forward was on the ice for the second straight day with the team as they practiced inside Ford Performance Centre. Jarnkrok, who had groin and sports hernia surgery in mid-November, is yet to play a game this season.
"Feeling great. It's been a long season for me," the 33-year-old said Wednesday. "Fun to be out there with the guys for sure."
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Tuesday that Jarnkrok will need time before he returns to the lineup. By the sounds of that, it could be a while before the forward returns to the lineup.
Jarnkrok, though, was hesitant to confirm when his target return date might be.
"I don't know. I mean, it's first two practices back with the team," he said. "I might need a couple practices before I can say anything about that. But it's fun to be back."
In 52 games with Toronto last season, the forward scored 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points while averaging just over 15 minutes of ice time. The Maple Leafs have been good without him in the lineup this year, but it's also evident they could benefit from having him back.
Jarnkrok has played wing and center throughout his time on the Maple Leafs, and on Wednesday — without Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, or William Nylander practicing — he practiced in the middle between Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson.
(He admitted he was just a placeholder for Matthews, who's at the 4 Nations Face-Off with the United States.)
Whenever Jarnkrok returns, Berube will use him in different positions. Toronto's head coach even called him a "Swiss Army Knife," given that he can play anywhere within the forward group.
"I think he can do anything, personally. I don't know him that well, but what I see from him and what I've heard, he's a very intelligent player and very capable of playing all three positions up front," Berube said.
"He's a reliable guy. He's a good penalty killer. He's out there at the end of the games. But he can provide some offense, too. He does make plays, and like I said, he has a good brain."
Toronto will definitely get a boost when Jarnkrok eventually returns. It's sort of like adding a player at the trade deadline, except in Jarnkrok's case, he's been around the team for years.
Though when he does insert back into the Maple Leafs' lineup, he's willing to play wherever needed to help the team.
"I've played center, I've played wing. It doesn't really matter to me."
