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Why Maple Leafs' Chris Tanev is eager to lose that lonely feeling

The Maple Leafs undoubtedly missed Chris Tanev last season as he played in just 11 games because of injuries.

Published Sep 18, 2026  •  4 minute read

From left: Jake McCabe, Darren Raddysh and Chris Tanev at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun

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Chris Tanev is done, fingers crossed, with solo workouts.

“You feel like you’re alone a lot when you’re hurt,” the veteran Maple Leafs defenceman said on Friday. “You’re not on the team schedule. You’re not travelling with the team. You’re there (at the rink) after (teammates) get there and before they get there.

“It can get frustrating. Being an athlete and being competitive, you’re always trying to push things, and you might feel good, but you don’t want to do too much to set you back.”

There have been no setbacks for the 36-year-old as he makes his way back to the Leafs lineup after not having played since Dec. 28.

Injuries became Tanev’s shadow in 2025-26, starting with a concussion and a spinal issue in the early months before a core muscle problem knocked him out of the lineup for good.

Tanev played in just 11 games and it wasn’t a coincidence that the Leafs missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

As new coach Jim Hiller and his staff went about making decisions about putting their lines together, there was no hesitation with Tanev.

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He and Jake McCabe, a formidable pair for the Leafs two years ago in the club’s charge to an Atlantic Division title, have been reunited and will be expected to again take leadership of Toronto’s defence corp.

“It’s a nice feeling seeing No. 8 next to me,” McCabe said after the Leafs practised at the Ford Performance Centre. “I can’t say how happy I am to have him back out here with us.”

There was a development on the blue line on Friday as Morgan Rielly, working his way back from a viral issue, skated on the right side on a pairing with Emil Andrae. That came a day after Rielly skated with the Marlies group to open camp.

In turn, Ben Danford was back with the Marlies group and skated alongside Noah Chadwick.

As for Rielly playing on the right side, this was Hiller’s message: Read nothing into it.

“That’s not where we envisioned that,” Hiller said. “We didn’t want to move things all over the place. We can skip that one for now. We just took one guy out, put one guy in.”

Of course, that’s not how Hiller came to reuniting Tanev and McCabe. Should the two do what the can when they’re at their best — play stifling defence while moving the puck up the ice with quickness and accuracy — if it bleeds to the rest of the group remains to be seen.

The example they set, provided there are no hiccups, should serve as the template, though Hiller mentioned that he doesn’t view them as “sitting way up higher than everybody and looking down on them.”

We’ll say it, then: In a perfect, healthy world, the two would be the Leafs’ best pair. All due respect to Darren Raddysh and others.

For Tanev, despite the experience that comes from playing in 868 career games in the National Hockey League, he won’t be able to simply flip a switch.

“I haven’t played since December, right?” Tanev said. “It’s the quick little plays. The puck gets squirted to the corner, you have someone chasing you. You have to beat him, make a pass. That stuff will take a little bit.”

Getting back into a groove for Tanev will have to come fast, given the short camp and just two pre-season games before the Leafs open on Sept. 29 against the Montreal Canadiens.

It’s not something that is keeping Tanev awake at night.

“I’m going to have to figure it out,” Tanev said in his matter-of-fact way. “It’s not like there’s another option. I’ve felt good the past two days.”

McCabe didn’t hesitate when he was talking about what the Leafs missed as Tanev watched the majority of games last season.

“The stability aspect to our group,” McCabe said. “He’s a pretty stoic guy. Nothing really affects Chris. He comes into the rink every day. He’s ready. He’s prepared. He’s ready to work. He’s probably the toughest guy I’ve played with, as far as dealing with injuries and whatever else comes with the game.

“He blocks so many shots and he hangs on to that puck for that extra half-second, in the corner or wherever it might be, knowing he’s going to get hit pretty hard, but he’ll make that little slip play on the tape and we’re out of the zone. Those little plays go a long way.”

Tanev’s stint on the sideline last season had double edge to it. The feeling of helplessness nagged at Tanev as the Leafs struggled through much of the season, eventually resulting in the firings of general manager Brad Treliving at the end of March and coach Craig Berube in May.

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“Watching is hard enough already and, if things aren’t going as planned, it makes it harder because everyone’s on edge,” Tanev said.

“It’s harder to watch than play the game. Watching is is more nerve-wracking for a player than playing.”

An effective Tanev would go a long way in putting the 2025-26 negatives to bed.

“The guys who were here last year are disappointed in everything that transpired,” Tanev said. “There are so many new faces, and it has been amazing so far, getting to know everyone.

“The vibes are great. The energy is good.”

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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