Chris Tanev Goes on IR and Morgan Rielly Loses His Partner as the Maple Leafs Head to Utah

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed defenseman Chris Tanev on injured reserve Sunday with an upper-body injury, a day after he left Saturday's 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche in the first period. Tanev played just 3:29 before exiting and did not return. Toronto recalled defenseman Marshall Rifai from the AHL's Toronto Marlies to fill the roster spot.

Tanev will miss at least the next three games, starting with Tuesday's game against the Utah Mammoth. Head coach Jim Hiller said more information would likely come in a day or two. For a 36-year-old who played just 11 games last season, any upper-body injury raises immediate questions about how long this absence will last.

The injury history

Tanev's recent health history is why Toronto is likely to be cautious. He was limited to 11 games in 2025-26 by upper-body and abdominal issues and underwent core muscle surgery in March. He came into this season healthy and had resumed his role as the Leafs' primary shutdown defenseman, paired with Morgan Rielly.

There is no timeline beyond the minimum IR stint. Hiller's comments suggest the team is still gathering information, which typically means further testing. If the injury is minor, Tanev could be back in a little over a week. If it is related to his previous issues, the absence could be longer.

The NHL's injury designations do not help much here. Upper-body is a deliberately vague label that can describe anything from a shoulder sprain to a concussion, and teams rarely add detail while a player is on IR. The fact that Tanev left after only a few shifts, rather than finishing the period, suggests the team saw something it did not want to risk. Toronto has the depth to avoid rushing him, and with a long season ahead, the organization's priority will be having Tanev available in the spring rather than in mid-October.

How Toronto's defense changes

Before the injury, Hiller's pairings had a clear shape.

Tanev's absence leaves a hole on the second pair beside Rielly. Hiller can either drop Rifai straight into the lineup in Utah or shuffle his existing pairs and keep Rifai as a reserve. One outlet has reported that Toronto is interested in adding a shutdown option such as Zach Whitecloud, though that remains speculation rather than a confirmed move.

Fantasy fallout

Morgan Rielly is the player whose value is most affected. Tanev's defensive steadiness allowed Rielly to activate in the offensive zone. Without that safety net, Rielly may be asked to play a more conservative game, or he could see his on-ice goals-against numbers rise. His power-play role should not change, so his scoring floor remains intact, but plus-minus leagues should note the potential downside.

Jake McCabe and Darren Raddysh could see more penalty-kill time and tougher matchups. That is mildly negative for their plus-minus and slightly positive for hits and blocked shots in category leagues.

Marshall Rifai is not a fantasy option, even in deep leagues.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Troy Stecher could move up the depth chart, depending on how Hiller adjusts. Neither is a fantasy priority, but Ekman-Larsson has had stretches of useful production when given more minutes.

Toronto's goaltending is the less obvious fantasy angle. Losing a shutdown defenseman typically means more quality chances against. Fantasy managers relying on Leafs goaltenders should be wary of a dip in save percentage while Tanev is out.

The betting angle

A defensive injury rarely moves a moneyline much, but it can move totals. Toronto scored six against Colorado and its offense is capable of covering for defensive lapses, but a weaker blue line raises the chances of higher-scoring games. When betting Leafs totals over the next week, give the over a little more credit than usual.

The matchup matters too. Utah plays a fast, puck-possession style built around young skill, and a Toronto defense missing its best shot-blocker and penalty killer faces exactly the type of opponent that exposes depth. The Leafs' penalty kill is the specific unit to watch: Tanev is one of its anchors, and a shorthanded unit without him is more likely to concede power-play goals, which benefits Utah's skaters in DFS and on player props.

For the model's view of Maple Leafs at Mammoth, see the NHL predictions page and the NHL picks for October 13 when they publish.

What to do in your league

1. Hold Rielly but expect some volatility in his plus-minus and secondary stats. 2. Monitor Toronto's line rushes before Tuesday's game in Utah to see how Hiller reshapes the pairs. 3. Do not add Rifai in any format. 4. Be cautious with Leafs goaltenders in DFS for the next week, especially against strong offensive teams. 5. Watch for a trade. If Toronto acquires a defenseman, that player's role would be meaningful immediately.

Tanev's injury is a reminder that the Leafs' blue line depth is thinner than its top names suggest. The minimum absence is three games, but given his history, managers should plan for the possibility that it is longer.