Positive sign for Chris Tanev who appears to be nearing a return
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
It was a positive step forward for Chris Tanev as the defenseman was seen wearing a normal jersey on Monday, a sign he could be nearing a return to game action.
Monday's game against Tampa Bay is going to be a crucial one for the Maple Leafs, as they can not only gain some ground in the Atlantic but shorten the gap between them and the first-place Lightning.
The team was without Scott Laughton at the morning skate although it looks like something the team isn't too concerned about at the moment, and he hasn't been ruled out for the game.
Chris Tanev showing positive sign towards a return
Someone who has been ruled out though is Chris Tanev, as he still works his way back from an upper-body injury and will be evaluated on Wednesday. He was skating once again at practice, although a keen eye will notice a big difference.
Tanev was seen skating in a regular contact jersey on Monday morning, a big step forward towards a potential return, showing progress from earlier on where he was skating, but in a red non-contact jersey instead.
Tanev being in a regular jersey is a great sign towards him coming back. With a more defined timeline after Wednesday, we could see Tanev on the ice soon.
What Toronto can expect from Tanev after Wednesday
Once Toronto figures out what is going on with Tanev, they will at least be able to narrow down exactly when they can expect him to return.
Toronto plays tonight against Tampa Bay, then not until Thursday against San Jose, so there is a possibility that if Tanev is healthy enough Thursday morning, he might slide into the lineup against San Jose.
But that is certainly not a guarantee and to avoid rushing him back soon, the team can afford to have him sit one more game and be ready for the weekend against Edmonton.
That would give him most of this week to heal further, while also continuing to get more involved and back in the swing of things, which is beneficial to their long-term playoff hopes as opposed to short-term winning now.
So while we have to wait until Wednesday to find out what's next with Tanev, his appearance at practice shows that at least he's on the right path to returning, whenever that may be.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 8 | 984 ANSWERS Positive sign for Chris Tanev who appears to be nearing a return Do you think Chris Tanev will return this week for the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 256 | 26 % |
| No | 728 | 74 % |
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