Flames defenseman Chris Tanev remains out with upper-body injury, flies home from team road trip
One of the top defenseman for the Calgary Flames has left the team due to injury.
The team announced that Chris Tanev returned to Calgary during the team’s road trip while they were in Las Vegas. The Flames clarified that the 33-year-old will be not be playing in Thursday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild.
Tanev had missed Tuesday night’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights due to an upper body injury that he suffered the night before. Early in their Monday night clash against the Colorado Avalanche, Tanev took a hard hit from the Avs’ Ross Colton, and went right down the tunnel after just 15 seconds of ice time.
The Flames lost both games, and have dropped five of their last six.
The team still has Tanev listed as day-to-day, with Calgary set to return home for a Saturday night meeting with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
This is not the first time an upper body injury has held Tanev out of lineup with the Flames. During the 2022 playoffs, Tanev missed four games thanks to a shoulder injury. After receiving surgery for a torn labrum that offseason, Tanev missed a handful of games in the 2022-23 season, also upper body-related.
Seeing the former Vancouver Canuck out of the lineup means his injury must be pretty bad, given the fact Tanev did not miss a game after blocking shot with his face against the Golden Knights on Nov. 27.
Tanev’s injury could not come at a worse time for him, or the Flames. Calgary played well toward the end of November, and felt like they could contend for a playoff spot. However, without their fearless shot blocker and veteran presence, a noticeable hole is left on the Flames’ blueline.
For Tanev, he has been in consistent trade talks since Nikita Zadorov was traded to Vancouver. A right-handed shot defenseman in the last year of his four-year contract, he would be a great pickup for anyone looking for a deep playoff push. However, if he misses substantial time, not only does his trade stock diminish, but so does his value for his next contract.
In 28 games this season, Tanev has seven points, with an impressive 65 blocked shots.
The Flames (11-14-4) come into Thursday night fifth in the Pacific Division with 26 points, just two points back of the Arizona Coyotes for the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.
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