New concern around Chris Tanev as the Maple Leafs await a key medical update

The Toronto Maple Leafs are awaiting further evaluation on Chris Tanev regarding his injury, and while they do so, he's been skating with the team and getting more involved as he works his way back towards game action.

He was seen in a regular contact jersey on Monday in what can only be considered a positive step forward towards his return, however Wednesday told a completely different story.

When the Maple Leafs took the ice, Tanev joined the group however was seen in a red non-contact jersey, a step back from Monday and leaving some questions as to what exactly is going on with the veteran defender.

The team has not confirmed whether or not this is a step back for Tanev or not, and have not made any comments as of yet.

However, the team could just be playing it safe. With him needing his evaluation, and practice likely taking place prior to that, the Leafs would rather him still be involved but not risk being too active and physical on the off-chance he gets in an awkward spot.

The team has discussed potential options going forward including a surgery that would place him on the shelf long-term but allow him to return later on. There's also a chance he's healthy and able to play, and on the inverse; could be facing a setback.

We truly have no idea until the Maple Leafs get the results, and while it's no doubt frustrating for the fans, so too for the team to have Tanev out for so long. The best-case scenario is that he is healthy enough to play, and is able to provide at least some of his defensive prowess even if he has to be a little more cautious.

But bringing him back so soon also paints a bullseye on him if he isn't 100%, and teams knowing the extent of his injury will be looking to cause as much chaos as possible, and the potential to be targeted rises.

If he is facing a setback, it's questionable then why he is practicing in the first place but if the results turn out badly, then the Maple Leafs have a lot of work to do.

With Dakota Mermis on the shelf now, the team is going to really need some defensive help, and while Troy Stecher has been fantastic, and Henry Thrun has been recalled to see what he can do; they don't provide the level of help that Tanev brings.

The team may need to hope another waiver claim appears or decide to bite the bullet and make a trade with whatever little assets they have.

For Tanev, a setback means that his future may be affected down the line and if he can't get healthy now, how does that affect him in 2 years? It's likely he suffered two concussions in a short time frame; and while he seems good to go we don't know the long-term effects.

There's a lot of questions surrounding Chris Tanev's future, and his evaluation is going to either give the Maple Leafs hope that he'll be back soon, or anxiety about how to proceed without one of their top blueliners for most of the season.