Maple Leafs D Chris Tanev (groin) out for 'significant time'

Field Level Media|published: 12/31/2025, 1:17pm EST

Dec 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (8) greets forward Bobby McMann who scored an empty net goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs expect defenseman Chris Tanev to miss "significant time" with a groin injury he sustained after recovering from a separate issue, coach Craig Berube said Wednesday.

Tanev's short-lived return to health ended after three games. The 36-year-old sat out Toronto's 4-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday after skating in recent matchups with the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.

An upper-body injury that forced Tanev to leave a Nov. 1 visit to the Philadelphia Flyers wound up shelving him for 23 games.

Berube also ruled out forward Dakota Joshua for an extended period. Joshua remained in Detroit to receive treatment for a kidney injury that knocked him out of the Maple Leafs' 3-2 overtime loss Sunday.

Star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander missed the New Jersey game with lower-body injuries but planned to skate Thursday and possibly return at home that night against the Winnipeg Jets.

Tanev is a 16-year NHL veteran in his second season with the Maple Leafs, his hometown team. He has two assists in 11 games this season and 210 points in 878 career appearances with four teams.

Joshua, 29, has six goals and 10 points in 36 games since joining Toronto in an offseason trade.

--Field Level Media