The big Chris Tanev question the Maple Leafs are finally about to get an answer on
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The status of Chris Tanev has been up in the air for weeks, but it looks like the Maple Leafs are getting close to getting answers after he undergoes more tests this week.
Chris Tanev has been out for over a month after that scary hit in Philadelphia on Nov 1., and the Maple Leafs still don't know when or how close to 100% he'll be when he returns.
But now the team has turned things around a bit, and while Tanev's status is still unknown, he has been skating with the team and did make an appearance during the team's optional practice on Sunday.
It was a positive sign that he would be back in the fold soon, but with no official timeline or announcement, we won't know until the team gives us any information.
What Craig Berube actually said about Chris Tanev's status
Craig Berube told reporters after practice that the update everyone's been waiting on could finally come this week.
Berube noted that Tanev will undergo more testing this week and after Wednesday, the team should have more of an idea of his return date.
The head coach stated:
He feels good. He's skating, working hard. But we'll have to see when he gets looked at on Wednesday.
Tanev was also joined at the optional practice by Marshall Rifai, who is recovering from surgery, as well as some of the extras like Matias Maccelli, Calle Jarnkrok, and backup Artur Akhtyamov.
This is the first time Toronto has actually named a date for when we can expect news on Tanev, and while it's not a sign of the team suddenly becoming transparent, it's a positive sign they publicly feel good about the situation.
What a green light on Wednesday would change for the Maple Leafs' blue line
His first real window to return would be later this week, with a potential to return against San Jose with a high likelihood to play against Edmonton. But that depends entirely on how those tests go.
That would be the perfect time to come back, and the need to shut down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl relies a lot on Tanev, who is one of Toronto's top shutdown blueliners.
Prior to his injury, Tanev had two assists, eight blocks, and a plus-5 rating in eight games so far.
But the question becomes then who comes out? Odds are it's going to be Philippe Myers. Troy Stecher is too important to come out, the team won't obviously with Jake McCabe, Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Simon Benoit.
That leaves Myers the odd man out, and while he's performed much better recently than he had earlier in the year, he can't hold a candle to Tanev's level of defense, and Toronto needs that with two rookie goalies patrolling the crease.
A healthy Tanev also makes it easier to shift trade focus from the right side of defense toward a scoring winger or power play help.
It would also bring back a locker room leader who also leads by example on the ice, and he just seems to raise everyone to a higher level when he's playing.
We still don't know if those tests will give him the green light or not, but for a Maple Leafs team leaning on rookie goalies and clinging on in the Atlantic, what the doctors say about Chris Tanev this week is going to outline their plans going forward.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 7 | 791 ANSWERS The big Chris Tanev question the Maple Leafs are finally about to get an answer on Will Chris Tanev return to the Maple Leafs before Christmas? | ||
| Yes | 388 | 49.1 % |
| No | 403 | 50.9 % |
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