Maple Leafs dealt discouraging injury update on key defensive defenseman appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Toronto Maple Leafs veteran defenseman Chris Tanev is expected to miss additional time because of an upper-body injury. The team announced on Thursday that the 36-year-old is considered week-to-week after sustaining the injury during Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.
Tanev exited the contest in the opening period following a collision with Avalanche forward Artturi Lehkonen. He managed just 3:29 of ice time over five shifts before leaving the game. Toronto placed him on injured reserve Monday, retroactive to October 10. The specific nature of his latest injury remains undisclosed.
The development is concerning given Tanev’s recent injury history. He appeared in only 11 games during the 2025-26 campaign after dealing with multiple health issues, including a core muscle injury that required surgery last March. He missed 71 games last season, with the procedure intended to help him enter the current campaign healthy.
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The Maple Leafs signed Tanev to a six-year contract worth an average annual value of $4.5 million in June 2024. He played 75 games in his first season with Toronto, finishing with a team-best plus-31 rating. However, his subsequent injury problems have limited his availability, and he has never completed a full NHL season.
Through six appearances this season, Tanev has recorded one assist, a plus-1 rating and an average of 16:51 of ice time per game. Across 884 regular-season contests with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars and Leafs, he has accumulated 36 goals, 175 assists, 211 points and 218 penalty minutes. He has also compiled 16 points in 73 playoff appearances.
Tanev’s absence creates another challenge for Toronto’s defensive group, which has been unable to find consistent pairings early in the season. The team was already dealing with limited defensive depth after general manager John Chayka traded Emil Andrae to the Columbus Blue Jackets shortly before the regular season began in a deal that brought forward Kirill Marchenko to the Maple Leafs.
Marshall Rifai was recalled from the Toronto Marlies following Tanev’s placement on injured reserve and made his season debut against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday. He could receive additional opportunities while Tanev remains unavailable.
The availability of right-side defensemen Troy Stecher and Nick Blankenburg also becomes increasingly important during Tanev’s absence.
The Leafs, carrying a 3-3-1 record into Thursday, are set to host the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. ET.