Chris Tanev's slow rehab leaves Maple Leafs camp return uncertain

Chris Tanev admitted his rehab didn't go as smoothly as he had hoped, and isn't exactly confident that he will be ready to go by the time training camp opens up.

Tanev recently spoke with The Toronto Star's Dave Feschuk where he talked a little bit more in depth about his surgery and rehab process as he prepares for the 2026-27 season. While he is hopeful, Tanev admitted things weren't as positive as he anticipated.

Tanev still needs medical clearance despite targeting Day 1 of Maple Leafs camp

Tanev mentioned that he was yet to be cleared to return to action, and aiming to be ready for the start of camp - but that isn't guaranteed:

Nothing has been easy since. In an interview this week, Tanev described the road back from surgery as a 'slow rehab.' Some six months removed from the operating table, he said he has yet to be cleared to return to action, although he's optimistic he will be soon.

'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.'

That's not exactly great news if you're John Chayka and the Maple Leafs. Tanev is expected to be a key part of the blueline but if he's not at 100% it's hard to know how effective he can be. 2025-26 was filled with several injuries as he had a concussion suffered on Oct. 21, only to have another one a couple weeks later on Nov. 1.

Add to that a core muscle injury that occurred in December that didn't have surgery until March (when Toronto was far and away from the postseason) - and Tanev is coming back with a lot to prove. It's easier to see why Tanev is a bit more hesitant to commit to camp knowing that he still has some work to do if he aims to get healthy.

Toronto's top-four plan gets thinner if Tanev can't handle his usual shutdown workload

Despite working closely with fitness guru Gary Roberts, Tanev being less than 100% is going to harm the Maple Leafs blueline without a doubt. If he plays but isn't effective or unable to use his body as the sacrificial lamb he usually does, the team loses a lot of his allure.

If he does end up missing camp or a large chunk of the season at any point, that gives Toronto's already fairly thin blueline a headache. Without Tanev, this is how the defence could look barring any other moves:

Rielly - Raddysh
McCabe - OEL
Andrae - Stecher

You still have Jake McCabe as your main shutdown guy, but as we saw last year he doesn't necessarily thrive when overworked. Andrae and Stecher are solid third-pairing defenders with the former potentially able to break out - but they are nowhere the type of player like Tanev.

There's no real contingency plan behind Tanev if he goes down, and with the Maple Leafs now at the maximum amount of contracts, they don't have much room to work with to add someone else.

Tanev's isn't guaranteed to miss camp and could very well be ready but you have to also keep in mind that he's already admitted that things aren't ready - and he's yet to still be cleared.

Until then, the Maple Leafs are going to have to hope that whatever is ailing Tanev still won't keep him from playing because if so, then Toronto could be in trouble.

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