Welcome to the latest edition of NHL Rumours on Last Word On Hockey. This edition focuses on the Toronto Maple Leafs and a none-too-encouraging injury update. The chatter has picked up regarding a Toronto defenceman who’s had a very tough season. So without further adieu, let’s jump into this urgent injury update
NHL Rumours: Maple Leafs Tanev to Have Surgery, Done for the Season
Rumour: The Toronto Maple Leafs could lose defenceman Chris Tanev for the remainder of the season. According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Tanev will meet with doctors to discuss surgery for an ongoing lower-body ailment. If Tanev and the Maple Leafs move forward, the veteran blueliner could be out until late April or early May.
Analysis: It has been a very tough injury-riddled season for Chris Tanev. He missed some time early in the season following an upper-body injury in late October. He returned, only to miss more than a month after sustaining a concussion. NHL rumours began to swirl about his injury status. However, Tanev made a remarkable recovery, only to go down again.
Some tough #LeafsForever news: Chris Tanev’s regular-season may be over. Per sources, Tanev is meeting with a surgeon in the coming week to determine next steps. If they move forward with surgery, he is expected to be out until late-April/early-May.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) January 4, 2026
This time, NHL Rumours suggest that Tanev is dealing with a groin injury. As Jonas Siegel reported in The Athletic, head coach Craig Berube confirmed Tanev’s current ailment. However, the injury situation has gotten to the point where surgery seems like the best course of action.
If that’s the case, the Maple Leafs could be without their top shutdown defenceman for the remainder of the regular season. That prospect puts the Maple Leafs in a pickle. They’re already without Brandon Carlo.
If NHL Rumours come to fruition, Tanev will be out until the beginning of the postseason. That situation poses an interesting dilemma for general manager Brad Treliving.
Tanev Injury Complicates Leafs Trade Deadline Plans
NHL Rumours have posited the Maple Leafs are looking to add another puck-moving defenceman. The most talked-about name has been the Calgary Flames Rasmus Andersson. However, the Leafs don’t seem to have the assets the Flames want for Andersson.
Additionally, the Maple Leafs just don’t have the cap space. According to PuckPedia, the Maple Leafs have about $1.7 million in cap space. However, that’s artificial space as it accounts for goaltender Anthony Stolarz being on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).
If and when Stolarz comes back, that cap space will disappear. That’s the same situation that could play out if the Maple Leafs choose to move Tanev and Dakota Joshua to LTIR. It’s worth pointing out that the Maple Leafs’ trade targets, as suggested in numerous NHL rumours, would have to be part of a cap-compliant postseason lineup.
This year, the new Stanley Cup Playoff salary cap system will go into effect. That situation means that if the Maple Leafs shut down Tanev for the season, they wouldn’t be able to activate him in the postseason unless the lineup were cap-compliant.
There is one other way out: Season-ending LTR (SELTIR). The problem with SELTIR is that Tanev would be unavailable even for the postseason, hence “season-ending.” Of course, that situation would only be a problem if the Maple Leafs are serious about contending for a playoff spot this season.
There’s nothing to suggest the Maple Leafs are ready to punt on this season. But as various NHL rumours have hinted, the Maple Leafs don’t have much wiggle room to add anything. Unless Treliving is comfortable with moving Tanev and/or Joshua to SELTIR, the club would have virtually zero cap space.
The next few days could determine the Leafs’ plans moving forward. News regarding Tanev and Joshua’s prognoses will provide a roadmap for Treliving’s plans.
Main Photo: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images