The Toronto Maple Leafs are staring down a serious blue-line crisis, and it just got worse. With Brandon Carlo now out indefinitely and Chris Tanev still not ready to return, the Leafs are dangerously thin on defense - and the latest update from head coach Craig Berube doesn’t offer much reassurance.
Let’s start with Carlo. After what looked like steady progress in his recovery, he’s now hit a setback that could require surgery.
That’s a brutal blow for a team already stretched on the back end. Carlo had been expected to return relatively soon, but now his timeline is completely up in the air.
There’s no sugarcoating it - losing a top-four defenseman like Carlo for an extended stretch is a major hit to Toronto’s defensive structure.
Then there’s Tanev. He’s skating, which is a good sign, but he’s not participating in full practices, and Berube made it clear on Tuesday that there’s still no timetable for his return. In fact, the veteran blueliner is expected to undergo additional evaluation, which raises some red flags.
“He’s going to have to get looked at here soon, I think, again, and see where he’s at,” Berube told reporters ahead of the Leafs’ game against Florida. “He’s skating, though.
Feels okay. I have no real update other than that on him.”
That’s not exactly the kind of clarity the Leafs were hoping for. The fact that Tanev hasn’t suffered a clear setback is encouraging - but the need for more tests suggests the team still doesn’t have a full picture of what’s going on. And in the NHL, uncertainty can be just as damaging as a confirmed injury.
Here’s the real issue: time. Every day without Tanev and Carlo puts more pressure on a defensive group that’s already being stretched beyond its limits.
Right now, players like Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis - typically depth options - are being asked to carry everyday NHL minutes. That’s a tough ask, and it’s not a sustainable model over the long haul.
And the Leafs don’t exactly have a cushion. Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, both key pieces on the blue line, have dealt with injuries in the past. If either of them goes down, Toronto’s already thin defense could become a full-blown liability.
So where does that leave the front office? General manager Brad Treliving is likely weighing his options.
The trade market is always tricky - especially when you’re looking for a reliable, shutdown defenseman like Tanev. Those guys don’t come cheap, and they certainly don’t grow on trees.
The other option is to dip into the AHL, but again, there’s no guarantee you’re getting NHL-ready help.
That’s what makes Tanev’s situation so critical. He’s not just another body on the back end - he’s a stabilizing force.
He brings structure, physicality, and elite defensive instincts. When he’s in the lineup, he makes everyone around him better.
Without him, the Leafs lose more than just minutes - they lose their safety net.
The Leafs now face a difficult balancing act. They can’t afford to rush Tanev back and risk a longer-term setback, but they also can’t afford to stand pat if his absence stretches on. If the next round of tests brings bad news, Treliving may have no choice but to make a move - even if it’s earlier or more costly than he’d like.
For now, Toronto has to dig deep. This stretch without two of their top four defensemen will test their depth, their resilience, and their ability to adapt.
If they can weather the storm and stay in the hunt, help may eventually arrive. But until then, the margin for error just got a whole lot smaller.