Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev has been activated from injured reserve ahead of Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Tanev was previously considered a game-time decision Thursday, after missing the past six games due to an upper-body injury, head coach Craig Berube confirmed.

The 35-year-old suffered the injury during a February 25 contest against the Boston Bruins, and reportedly left the arena with his arm in a sling. Tanev was a participant in Thursday’s optional skate.

“He’s close, I’d say. He’s getting better. He’s improving every day,” Berube said Wednesday. “We’ll just have to see. I don’t really have a timeline yet.”

Tanev has operated as Toronto’s best defenceman throughout the 2024-25 season. He’s formed an excellent shutdown pairing with Jake McCabe and ranks fifth in the NHL with 151 shots blocked, prior to Thursday’s game. Toronto sports a plus-17 goal differential when Tanev is on the ice at 5-on-5, along with a 52 percent share of the expected goals. And without Tanev, the Maple Leafs have been considerably worse, controlling just 37 percent of the expected goals at 5-on-5 in the six games he’s missed, while sporting a 3-2-1 record overall.

Tanev has recorded two goals and 17 points in 57 games, with a plus-26 rating.

Philippe Myers and Nick Robertson stayed on the ice to get some additional work in at the end of Thursday’s morning skate. Robertson is projected to be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game, while Pontus Holmberg remains in the lineup with David Kampf and Steven Lorentz.

Tanev signed a six-year deal worth $4.5 million annually with the Maple Leafs last summer and has become an integral part of the team. Toronto has weathered several injuries throughout the season and exercising caution may be a good strategy for a veteran-laden roster that is facing the most important playoff window of its past decade.