Chris Tanev is on the Toronto Maple Leafs' road trip and skating, but there's still no return date for the injured defenseman.
Jim Hiller provided the update, per Lance Hornby, ahead of Monday night's game in Calgary.
Tanev is on IR with an upper-body injury and expected out until at least October 31.
That date lines up with the final stop of the trip in Vancouver. Hiller wasn't ready to promise anything.
Skating on a road trip without a timeline is like holding a boarding pass with no departure time printed on it.
The 36-year-old has a +1 rating through 6 games this season.
So what does the back end look like until he's ready?
-
Chris Tanev remains without return date despite encouraging sign for Maple Leafs
Morgan Rielly has been humming, with 5 assists over his last 5 games.
Troy Stecher scored the game-winner in Saturday's 7-2 win in Edmonton. He logged 24:21 in that one.
Both of his goals this season have been game-winners.
Darren Raddysh carries the biggest cap hit on the blue line at $8,500,000.
Marshall Rifai is on IR as well, and Dakota Mermis has dressed just once this season.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe have both dressed for all 13 games.
Toronto shouldn't rush this. A veteran defenseman with an upper-body injury and a $4,500,000 cap hit is worth more in April than on a Monday in Calgary.
The Leafs sit at 7-4-2. That's 16 points, level with Ottawa and three back of Boston in the Atlantic.
They've been solid away from home at 3-1-1, which matters with three more road dates ahead.
In net, Anthony Stolarz owns a .907 save percentage, while Sergei Bobrovsky sits at .895.
Ryan Huska's Flames won't roll over. They've won three straight, including a 4-1 win over Detroit on Saturday.
Hiller is also without John Tavares, who's out until at least November 27 with a lower-body injury.
Seattle and Vancouver follow. If Tanev still isn't in the lineup when the trip wraps, the word unknown in Hiller's update starts to sound a lot less comfortable.
Should the Leafs hold Chris Tanev out until the trip is over, even if he's ready sooner?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Dylan Larkin trade speculation takes a new turn with reported Red Wings conference call
