PHILADELPHIA — Chris Tanev was discharged from the hospital Sunday and will return home to Toronto after the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman was removed from the ice on a stretcher in the third period of a 5-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday.
Tanev collided with Philadelphia forward Matvei Michkov at the Toronto blue line at 8:23 and remained face down while being attended to by medical staff. Michkov was called for interference on the play, which came with the Maple Leafs leading 4-1.
“He stayed overnight for precautionary reasons, but he’s back here [in Toronto],” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said Monday. “We’ve all spoken to him, and he’s in a good spot.”
Tanev was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Saturday, and defenseman Dakota Mermis was recalled from Toronto of the American Hockey League. The Maple Leafs host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Scotiabank Arena on Monday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, Prime, NHLN, SN-PIT).
“It’s a tough feeling,” Toronto captain Auston Matthews said. “He’s such an integral part of this team that brings so much experience. Anytime they’re bringing out a stretcher, it’s never a good feeling deep inside. So, we’re all obviously thinking about him and praying for him and hoping for the best. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious, but you never like seeing that happen.”
Saturday marked Tanev’s first game back after he missed the previous four because of an upper-body injury. He had an assist on Jake McCabe’s goal that made it 2-1 in the second period.
Tanev, 35, has two assists in eight games this season, his second with the Maple Leafs since being traded from the Dallas Stars on June 29, 2024. He signed a six-year, $27 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value) two days later.
Tanev has 209 points (36 goals, 173 assists) in 874 regular-season games with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Stars and Maple Leafs, and 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 73 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
NHL.com independent correspondent Dave McCarthy contributed to this report
