'A Very Ominous Sign' For Maple Leafs' Chris Tanev

The Toronto Maple Leafs set a franchise record for futility Thursday night, losing their fifth straight game of an extended homestand for the first time on record. And their top defenseman, Chris Tanev, was sitting in the press box again for 'load management' for the second time in three games.

Tanev said earlier this week he's frustrated by the Leafs' plans to continue to give him maintenance days off. But on TSN's First Up Friday morning, former player Carlo Colaiacovo and host Aaron Korolnek raised some serious questions about Tanev's status going forward, and talked about how "terrified" the Maple Leafs are about what he has become.

"The Maple Leafs have no faith in this guy to stay healthy, or even when he is healthy, to play at a competent level," Korolnek said.

"I am stunned at their approach, and it's a very ominous sign for what Chris Tanev has become this year... Not good, not good at all."

"I'm dumbfounded by this," said Colaiacovo. 

"I'm trying to understand what the right reaction should be to this because obviously you want to put the player's health at the forefront, but give me a break man. You're trying to tell your fanbase that your motivation is to be a playoff team again, and you're in the middle of a losing streak. 

"It just feels like the world is coming down on this whole organization again. He's one of your best defencemen defensively... I get the whole back-to-back thing, but... Can't you load manage Chris Tanev within the game? Hey, here's an idea: dress seven defenseman! Play them 10 to 15 minutes a night instead of 22, 23 minutes a night... This is where we've come? Where you just can't play the guy at all?"

'I think the Leafs think Tanev is washed': Toronto Radio host

"I hate to say this," Korolnev concluded. "I think the Leafs think Chris Tanev is washed... I think that's a scary, scary proposition. But I can't figure anything else out. Their season is falling apart as we see it, and they're resting this guy. This doesn't happen in hockey. You do not see this. Ever."

The Leafs used an undrafted, unheralded minor leaguer, Cole McWard, on the blueline in his place in Thursday night's 5-2 loss to Minnesota. Ward played just over 16 minutes. It was only his 10th appearance in the NHL spread out over the last five years. 

Tanev has played in 10 games this season. He missed three weeks after an upper-body injury. He has one assist and has played 17:52 average ice time per night. He still has another three years to run after this one on his $4.5 million AAV deal.