Craig Berube Delivers Chris Tanev's Injury Update on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 2:43 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs offered few specifics on Chris Tanev’s status after the veteran defenseman exited Tuesday’s loss to the New Jersey Devils with an upper-body injury.

Head coach Craig Berube addressed reporters on Wednesday after shifting a scheduled full practice to an optional skate for maintenance reasons, providing a new update on Tanev's injury.

When asked about the star blueliner, Berube said the defenseman is “questionable” without adding further details nor providing a specific return timeline.

"He's doing better today, but he's questionable right now," Berube said, per Terry Koshan of Postmedia.

Berube on Tanev: "He's doing better today, but he's questionable right now." #Leafs
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) October 22, 2025

Tanev left the game in the second period after a collision with Devils forward Dawson Mercer. The 34-year-old did not return and was visibly shaken up on the ice before skating off.

Max Domi, who practiced on the top line Wednesday, said the sight of Tanev staying down on the ice during Tuesday's game was alarming.

“I’m not going to lie with you, when he stays down it’s definitely scary because I have never played with a guy as tough as Chris Tanev,” Domi said. “So, it’s not a good feeling, as a group, when you see a guy like that go down, but he seems to be doing well & tough as nails.”

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (8) against the Calgary Flames.Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Berube also provided an update on Scott Laughton, who has been sidelined since preseason after blocking a shot, with the coach sounding optimistic Laughton could be nearing a return.

Meanwhile, Joseph Woll remains away from the team for personal reasons, and Berube did not elaborate on whether the netminder had resumed skating or not.

Toronto dropped to 3–5–0 with Tuesday’s 5–2 loss in Newark, and will next navigate a home-and-home against the Buffalo Sabres starting Friday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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