Chris Tanev’s season is officially over. The Toronto Maple Leafs announced their veteran defenseman just had core muscle surgery in New York City.
The good news? He should be ready to go when training camp starts in September.
Tanev hasn’t played since December 28th, when what started as a groin injury turned out to be much more serious. Though he tried skating during the Olympic break, surgery became the only real option.
It’s been a really tough year for the 36-year-old. Between this and a couple of upper-body injuries earlier in the season, he only managed to play 11 games.
His stats tell the story of his limited time on ice: just two assists, 18 shots, and 15 blocked shots. He did maintain a solid +8 rating while averaging about 18 minutes per game.
The Leafs knew they were taking a chance when they signed Tanev to a six-year, $4.5 million per season deal back in 2024. While that’s actually pretty good value when he’s healthy, injuries have always been his biggest problem – he’s only played 70+ games four times in his 16-year career.
That contract, which includes a no-movement clause and runs until he’s 40, could become a headache if he can’t stay healthy. Though the rising salary cap might help soften the blow.
The Leafs have gotten used to playing without him. With their playoff hopes pretty much gone, there’s no point rushing him back now.
His absence means more ice time for Philippe Myers and Troy Stecher on the bottom defensive pair. It might also open doors for young prospects Henry Thrun and William Villeneuve, especially if Toronto ends up trading some defensemen before the deadline.
