Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said that defenceman Chris Tanev is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Tanev exited Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins early in the first period after taking a hit from forward John Beecher. He was favouring his right arm as he was labouring to the bench before heading to the dressing room. After the game, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reported that Tanev left TD Garden with his right arm in a sling.

Berube told reporters after the Leafs’ practice on Wednesday in Boston that while the diagnosis is an encouraging sign, Tanev will not play on Friday against the New York Rangers with Philippe Myers expected to slot back in.

“I think Oliver Ekman-Larsson, McCabe, and Mo have played really well lately. I thought Mo and OEL were great last night. They’re going to have to step up,” Berube said. “All the D are going to have to step up. Someone’s going to have to come in and play for Tanev. We’re going to need good minutes out of them. We’re going to need penalty kill out of them. They all gotta dig in and step up.”

While Tanev is at a minimum going to miss at least one game, the fact he is listed as day-to-day is a positive development given how integral he has been to the Leafs’ improved defensive proficiency. He was also coming off a strong weekend which included a two-point performance against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

Through 57 games this season, he has produced 17 points (two goals and 15 assists) and was on his way to only his fourth season of hitting the 20-point mark. While the offensive contributions have been beneficial, Tanev has been most valuable on the defensive end where he is currently third in the NHL in blocked shots with 151 and leads all Leafs defencemen in xGF% at 5v5 with a rate of 51.99. Considering he also leads all Leafs blueliners in defensive zone starts at 67%, he has been a difference-maker for his team on the opposite side of the puck.

Tanev is in the first year of a six-year contract that carries an AAV of $4.5 million. His UFA rights were acquired by the Leafs during the 2024 NHL Draft from the Dallas Stars in exchange for Max Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round pick.