Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube delivered several injury updates when speaking with the media Monday, including confirming that defenceman Chris Tanev is still considering having surgery.
Tanev is out indefinitely with a groin injury suffered on Dec. 28 against the Detroit Red Wings.
Berube clarified that Tanev may go under the knife to address his most recent ailment, and not the upper-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for a lengthy period earlier this season. He will be evaluated this week.
Meanwhile, defenceman Jake McCabe is expected to miss about a week with a lower-body injury after being hurt Saturday against the New York Islanders. He played 18:07 and was a plus-2 in Toronto’s 4-3 overtime loss.
Berube did have some good news about Toronto’s banged-up defensive corps however, as he told reporters that Brandon Carlo is trending toward a return that could come as soon as Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. He has not played since Nov. 13 because of a foot injury but practised with the Leafs on Monday as he continues to work his way back.
Forward Dakota Joshua is back with the team after suffering a lacerated kidney on Dec. 28. He is without a return timeline.
Nylander, Stolarz update
Forward William Nylander remains day-to-day after missing the Leafs’ past four games. He skated on his own Monday and has not played since Dec. 27.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz is skating and “getting better” according to Berube, but remains without a timeline. He has not played since Nov. 11 due to an upper-body injury.
The Leafs sit last in the Atlantic Division at 19-15-7 on the season with 45 points in 41 games.