Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev exits versus Bruins after suffering upper-body injury

Facing the Atlantic Division rival Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev exited early into the first period following a hit by Bruins center John Beecher. The Maple Leafs later announced that Tanev would not return after suffering an upper-body injury.

Following the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 overtime victory, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reported that Tanev was wearing a sling on his right arm and that a further evaluation of his injury status would be provided Wednesday.

In all, Tanev saw just two shifts and 49 total seconds of ice time versus the Bruins. Skating in his first season with the Maple Leafs, the stay-at-home defenseman has appeared in all but one game this year, only missing a late-December contest due to a lower-body ailment.

Through it all, the 35-year-old Toronto native has scored twice and added 15 assists for 17 points alongside 18 penalty minutes and a plus-27 rating. Tanev also ranks fourth among Toronto rearguards in averaging just over 20 minutes of time on ice per game, while his 151 blocked shots rank second-best league wide, two behind fellow defenseman Ian Cole of the Utah Hockey Club.

In July, Tanev joined the Maple Leafs, agreeing to a six-year deal in unrestricted free agency worth $4.5-million per season, according to PuckPedia. Tanev joined the Maple Leafs following 14 seasons split between the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Dallas Stars.

Originally joining the Canucks in 2010 as an undrafted free agent, Tanev has since totaled 848 career contests in which he has recorded 35 goals and 172 assists for 207 points. With the Flames in 2021-22, Tanev reached a career-high 28 points counting six goals and 22 assists coming in 82 games. Tanev has also added one goal and 12 assists for 13 points through 60 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Entering Tuesday’s contest against the Bruins, the Maple Leafs sat atop the Atlantic Division with a 35-20-2 showing, one point ahead of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. The Maple Leafs have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past eight seasons.