Chris Tanev knows exactly what the hard part of injury rehab feels like.
“You feel like you’re alone a lot when you’re hurt,” the veteran Maple Leafs defenceman said on Friday. “You’re not on the team schedule.
You’re not travelling with the team. You’re there (at the rink) after (teammates) get there and before they get there.
“It can get frustrating. Being an athlete and being competitive, you’re always trying to push things, and you might feel good, but you don’t want to do too much to set you back.”
For Tanev, that lonely stretch is finally winding down. The 36-year-old has had no setbacks as he works his way back into the Leafs lineup after last playing on Dec. 28.
His 2025-26 season was derailed by a concussion, then a spinal issue in the early months, and finally a core muscle problem that ended his run in the lineup. He appeared in only 11 games, and the Leafs’ missed Stanley Cup playoff berth - their first in 10 years - was no coincidence.
Now, with new coach Jim Hiller and his staff sorting through their lineup plans, Tanev’s role was never really in doubt. He has been reunited with Jake McCabe, a pairing that gave the Leafs a major boost two years ago during the run to an Atlantic Division title, and the expectation is that the two will again help anchor Toronto’s defence corps.
There was also movement elsewhere on the blue line Friday. Morgan Rielly, coming back from a viral issue, skated on the right side alongside Emil Andrae after skating with the Marlies group to open camp on Thursday. Ben Danford, meanwhile, was back with the Marlies group and skated with Noah Chadwick.
Hiller’s decision to put Tanev and McCabe back together wasn’t made with some grand theory attached to it. It’s about getting two defenders who, at their best, can smother plays, move the puck quickly and accurately, and set the tone for the group around them.
Whether that example spreads through the rest of the roster remains to be seen, but Hiller did make one thing clear: he doesn’t see them as players who are “sitting way up higher than everybody and looking down on them.”
In Other News...
Martin Pospisil Has A Real Shot To Reshape Calgarys Forward Battle
Martin Pospisil arrives at Calgary Flames training camp with a real chance to matter in more than one lane. He is being set up as the fourth-line center, a spot head coach Ryan Huska feels good about after watching him handle the position at the 2026 World Championships, and the early read is that the organization wants to see whether his game can translate to a regular NHL role down the middle.
There is also a path to penalty-kill work, which matters now that Blake Colemans departure has created a vacancy in that department. With general manager Craig Conroy calling the 2026-27 season an evaluation year, Pospisils camp becomes part of a larger competition among the Flames young forwards, and how he fares could help shape the bottom half of the lineup for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Settle Brennan Othmann Question As Camp Battle Takes Shape
The contract picture around Brennan Othmann is finally settled as the Flames opened training camp, giving the 23-year-old forward a fresh chance to make his case after weeks without a new deal reported. Calgary announced the signing on social media Friday, and the move clears one of the lingering offseason questions around a former first-round pick whose next step still comes with plenty of interest inside the organization.
Othmann is expected to begin the year in the American Hockey League, but he is not being boxed out of the NHL conversation by any means. A one-year arrangement keeps the path open for him to push his way into the mix during the season, and it adds another layer to a camp battle that is already starting to take shape for the Flames. [Read more 🡒]
Hunter Brzustewicz Suddenly Has A Tougher Flames Path Than Expected
Hunter Brzustewiczs path to the Flames roster has gotten a lot more complicated as camp approaches. The young right-shot defenseman has shown enough promise to stay on the radar, and he already has some NHL experience, but Calgarys depth on the right side is making every spot look hard to claim for a player still trying to establish himself.
For now, hes slated to start in the AHL, where the Flames can keep him playing without rushing the process. There is still a route back to the NHL if the roster shifts or a need opens up on defense, and Brzustewicz remains the kind of young piece Calgary will keep watching closely as the season takes shape. [Read more 🡒]