Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev shares injury update as other big names expect to be back for training camp

The greatly missed Chris Tanev, Auston Matthews and Anthony Stolarz were all at locket clean out day, all on track for recovery.

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Published Apr 16, 2026  •  2 minute read

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev talks to reporters during the end of season media availability at the Ford Performance Centre. Ernest Doroszuk/Toronto Sun

One by one, the missing persons list on the Maple Leafs re-appeared from their forced hibernation.

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And what they could’ve done — or can do next year — did stir some autumn optimism.

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Lynchpin defenceman Chris Tanev revealed he had held off groin surgery until March 4 because he still had faith Toronto could make the playoffs and he could rehab without an operation to re-join the team in April.

But already lacking his size, presence and experience from an earlier injury, the Leafs went in a post-Olympics funk and Tanev decided on going under the knife. Tanev was in New York City for a follow-up appointment Monday and expects to be at camp and put 2025-26 behind him.

“Awful,” he summarized. “I let a lot of people down. To only play 11 games, it sucks and watching (their fall from first to last) wasn’t great. Not going to get into excuses on injuries, but we had some players who didn’t play a lot (Auston Matthews, Anthony Stolarz).

“We can learn a lot from this year, a lot from having a good start and not falling behind the eight ball. I believe we can be a playoff team.”

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Tanev turns 37 in January, but carries a much younger man’s fire through the summer.

“Very confident I can come back,” Tanev said. “I feel l work harder than anyone and will continue to do that to get where I need to be.”

What is about other injured Leafs?

Matthews has been under wraps and working out with Tanev since his own operation in mid-March to repair an MCL tear from the Radko Gudas hit. He just shed his crutches on Monday with the goal of a full camp.

Stolarz was relieved not to need surgery after a groin strain a week ago against Washington. He earlier survived a puck in the throat from William Nylander, insisting both injuries were the wear-and-tear type, though they’ve been frequent since he joined Toronto two years ago. The nature of the groin injury will take some time to get back to full training.

“I’ll hit the rehab process hard,” vowed Stolarz, who had been a bright light just before he went down.

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On the mental side, he spoke of trying too hard “to be the perfect goalie” when given his first chance as a starter in the NHL, something he’ll temper next season.

Joseph Woll did get through this term relatively injury-free compared to the past, but never addressed what the personal issue was that caused him to leave camp and not return until November.

He said at the time to media he might eventually publicly discuss the matter, which required three goalies coming and going and contributed to the team’s slow start, but declined when asked Monday.

Nor would he say if, whatever the issue was, it affected the rest of his season, including a poor finish as his save percentage dropped in spring.

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