The Toronto Maple Leafs were dealt an early blow Saturday night in Denver, with defenseman Chris Tanev leaving the game against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period because of an upper-body injury. The team said during the contest that he would not return.
For Toronto, the concern goes beyond one night. Tanev has dealt with a long injury trail across his NHL career, including multiple concussions, and his latest setback comes after a season in which he was mostly able to stay on the ice.
In 2024-25, he played 75 games in his first year with the Leafs. This season, he had appeared in all five games before Saturday, producing one assist, a plus-2 rating and an average of 19:31 of ice time per game.
The 36-year-old also arrived at this season following surgery last March to repair a core muscle issue. Toronto said he would be ready for the start of the year, and that has held true until this early exit against Colorado.
Tanev has become a familiar piece on the blue line for the Leafs, even with a summer overhaul of the defensive group under new general manager John Chayka. So far this year, he had settled into the second pair next to Morgan Rielly, giving Toronto the kind of steady, stay-at-home partner that lets Rielly do more of the puck-moving.
His injury history adds another layer to the situation. Last November, Tanev missed roughly a month and a half after being taken off on a stretcher following a collision.
After returning, he lasted three more games before a groin injury sidelined him again. He is now in the third season of a six-year contract carrying a $4.5 million salary cap hit.
If Tanev needs more time, Oliver Ekman-Larsson could be the veteran option to step into the lineup.
The Leafs entered Saturday’s matchup with the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners having put together a 2-2-1 start under new head coach Jim Hiller.
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Avalanche Reunion Night Comes With One Intriguing Lineup Twist
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Blankenburg is the more interesting name to watch because Toronto may need him to step in after an injury to Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Wood is also back with the big club after a recent AHL recall, though he is not expected to play, which leaves one small lineup wrinkle still worth monitoring before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]