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The Toronto Maple Leafs left Saturday’s 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche with uncertainty surrounding Chris Tanev after the veteran defenseman exited early with an upper-body injury.
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Head coach Jim Hiller
“Don’t know. I don’t know,” Hiller said when asked for the latest. “I haven’t… There’s been lots going on here, so I haven’t really talked to anybody about him. We’ll probably know more tomorrow or the next day. Tomorrow’s a day off, so it might be a couple of days.”
Tanev appeared to overextend his shoulder while defending a shot in the first period. Toronto announced before the second period that he wouldn’t return.
Tanev seems to get hurt on this play in the first period pic.twitter.com/eNx8goax4y
– Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) October 11, 2026
Hiller acknowledged the Leafs’ concern given that Tanev couldn’t finish the game and has a long injury resume.
“Yeah, I mean, you’re always concerned,” Hiller said. “Yeah, whether it’s him or anybody, if a player isn’t able to finish the game. So, yeah, I’m always concerned about my players.”
The Athletic’s Jonas Siegel added to Hiller’s update by reporting an interesting postgame exchange involving Leafs winger William Nylander, who had five points in the victory.
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According to Siegel, Nylander finished his Sportsnet interview and went straight to check on Tanev.
“Moments after Nylander finished his postgame interview with Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas, he raced over to check on Tanev, who left after his fifth shift and didn’t return,” Siegel reported. “Tanev, wearing a maroon suit, pulled Nylander aside, presumably to update him on his status, which the Leafs have yet to clarify other than to call the problem an upper-body injury.”
“It’s not fun to see,” Nylander said of Tanev’s exit, per Siegel.
Tanev played only 11 games last season while dealing with multiple injuries. Hiller indicated the team may not have more information until after Sunday’s day off, hinting at a Monday update.
Toronto’s decision to dress seven defensemen on Saturday helped the team manage the rest of the game, with goal-scorer Nick Blankenburg the extra blueliner.
The Maple Leafs next play Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth at 9 p.m. ET.
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This story was originally published October 11, 2026 at 9:09 AM.