Maple Leafs News: Tanev Lands On Injured Reserve

The Toronto Maple Leafs' season just got a little bit tougher as defenseman Chris Tanev has landed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The 35-year-old played in the first seven games of the 2025-26 season for Toronto and the team is 3-3-1.

With Chris Tanev (upper body) being placed on injured reserve, the #leafs have recalled Dakota Mermis from the AHL.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 23, 2025

Tanev has logged 17:42 of ice time per game, and over 2:30 of that has come on the penalty kill. His ice time isn't as high as it should be based on his injury, coming just under 6 minutes of ice time into his previous game.

Called up in Tanev's place was Dakota Mermis, but it's Philippe Myers who appears to be coming into the lineup and slotting in on the fourth line. He has yet to play a game this season. Mermis, on the other hand, has gotten into two games in the AHL for the Toronto Marlies.

The Maple Leafs players have already been called out by goaltender Anthony Stolarz, so losing the best defensive defenseman on the team will likely just make things worse. The team has to figure it out and do it quickly. There isn't a timeline for Tanev's return at the moment, but after great play last season and 189 blocked shots, the Maple Leafs are going to miss his presence in the lineup.

The 28-year-old Myers has played 194 NHL games and Mermis has played 78 as a 31-year-old. Myers should get the majority of the playing time as he wasn't bad in the 36 games he suited up for the Maple Leafs last season.