Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev was injured against the Colorado Avalanche, and this afternoon, the team made an official decision.
Chris Tanev left the game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night as he suffered an apparent upper-body injury.
This injury was sustained in the first period. Tanev eventually went back to the locker room and never came back to the bench, with reporters like Elliotte Friedman confirming that he would not return.
With the Leafs defeating the Avalanche 6-3, the team is riding a high, although the Tanev situation has been a looming issue that the franchise needs to deal with.
According to the NHL media Site, Tanev has officially been placed on the injured reserve. Consequently, he will be out for a minimum of seven days.
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At this time, there is no diagnosis for Tanev's injury. Instead, he is still listed as out with an upper-body injury, and fans can consider him day-to-day for the time being.
Overall, this is a hit to the defensive core, although Nick Blankenburg is available to fill that hole. He scored a goal last night and seems eager to justify his latest contract.
What's next for the Maple Leafs?
It is expected that the Maple Leafs will be looking to add a defenseman this week via the Toronto Marlies. In fact, Marshall Rifai seems like the most likely candidate.
For now, however, it really does feel as though Blankenburg will be the replacement for the Leafs. He has played well in his one start and is showing why the Leafs signed him.
That said, this injury to Tanev is unfortunate. The Leafs wanted him to be healthy this season, and so far, he has struggled to do that.
If this continues to be an issue for the Leafs, then a difficult decision will have to be made by general manager John Chayka and the front office.
Do you believe Chris Tanev will be back within a week?
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