Leafs’ Chris Tanev to miss significant time with groin injury

Toronto Maple Leafs’ head coach Craig Berube told reporters Wednesday that defenseman Chris Tanev will miss “significant time” with a groin injury.

“They’re looking at things going forward here, so I’m not gonna speculate on what they’re gonna exactly do,” Berube said. “But he’s gonna be out a while.”

Tanev suffered the injury during the Leafs’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, although it’s unclear how it was sustained. He finished the night with one shot, four blocked shots in 20:10 of ice time.

Through 11 games this season, Tanev has two assists while averaging 17:58 of ice time. He’s missed the majority of the 2025-26 campaign with injuries, including an upper-body injury sustained Nov. 1 against the Philadelphia Flyers that put him on long-term injured reserve until Dec. 23.

Now in his second season with the club, the blueliner was acquired by Toronto from the Dallas Stars at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, then signed a six-year, $27 million contract that will pay him an annual average value (AAV) of $4.5 million through the 2029-30 season. 

Through 16 NHL seasons, Tanev, a native of Toronto, has 36 goals and 174 assists for 210 points, averaging 19:56 of ice time in 878 career regular-season games with the Maple Leafs, Stars, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. 

The Leafs are 18-15-6 with 42 points through 39 games in 2025-26. They are sixth in the Atlantic Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. They will host the Winnipeg Jets on New Year’s Day then travel to Long Island to face the New York Islanders on Saturday.