Maple Leafs' Chris Tanev Still Awaiting Medical Clearance
Chris Tanev is excited to put a very unfortunate season behind him, and start 2026-27 off on the right foot. The only problem is, he's yet to receive medical clearance to start training camp, which is only days away.
“We still have to check some boxes with the doctors,” Tanev said. “But the plan is for me to be out there day one of camp.” Tanev's expected to jump back into the middle pair of the Leafs defense core, likely playing mostly with Morgan Rielly.
Last season Tanev played in just 11 games, as he dealt with a concussion, a spinal injury, and then a groin, and core muscle injury that shut down his season. “For the doctors it was probably pretty easy. It was like, ‘You need surgery.’ But for me it was tough,” Tanev said. “I was trying to rehab and get back to a place where I could potentially help the team if we did make playoffs. But obviously that didn’t happen.”
“I mean, I’m feeling good. We still have to talk to the doctors, I think, in a week or two. But the plan is hopefully I’m ready to rumble once everything gets going,” Tanev said. He's been skating in the Toronto area most of the summer, training with the likes of Gary Roberts, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“I still love it. I still love playing. I love being around the guys, and I love working hard,” Tanev said. “So it wasn’t an easy rehab. But I don’t think there was a moment where I said that this is going to be too much for me … I’m confident in all the work I’ve put in, and I feel like I’ve worked extremely hard and I’ve just got to keep checking boxes and get to where I need to be.”
The Maple Leafs veteran blueliner caught up recently with Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk and opened up about a disappointing and injury-riddled year, and how he's excited to hit the reset button in Toronto.
Last season Tanev played in just 11 games, as he dealt with a concussion, a spinal injury, and then a groin, and core muscle injury that shut down his season. “For the doctors it was probably pretty easy. It was like, ‘You need surgery.’ But for me it was tough,” Tanev said. “I was trying to rehab and get back to a place where I could potentially help the team if we did make playoffs. But obviously that didn’t happen.”
The 36-year-old knows he's in the back nine of his career, but he does have four years left on his contract. For now, Tanev is just looking forward to a clean slate under Jim Hiller and John Chayka, and seeing where the Leafs can go as a totally refreshed roster.