Tanev Released From Hospital; Immediate Future With Maple Leafs Unclear

Last night should have been a merry occasion for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who went into enemy territory and came away with a 5-2 victory. However, it was marred by the infamous collision involving Chris Tanev and Matvei Michkov.

Midway through the third period, Tanev collided with Michkov just outside of the blueline, causing the former's neck to snap back as he fell onto the ice surface.

After having been tended to by the medical staff, Tanev was then stretchered off and delivered to a nearby hospital. Considering he was just activated off of injured reserve for a concussion, that was the last thing anyone wanted to see.

Head coach Craig Berube had a brief update after the game that Tanev was doing okay and was being further examined, but that was the extent of their knowledge at the time.

Those aforementioned tests must have come back clean as Tanev was discharged from the hospital this morning. The Leafs announced he was being evaluated for precautionary reasons after the game, but he will now be returning home to Toronto.

While Tanev's status is still up in the air, he will more than likely be out of action as the team and player consider the situation. However, with the Leafs opening up a 4-game home-stand, that should afford them the opportunity to keep a close eye on him and monitor his health.

It's been an unfortunate start to the 36-year-old's season as he's dealt with two serious injuries within a 2-week span. The Leafs will assuredly take a very cautious approach with Tanev as his status for the foreseeable future remains unclear.

In his absence, look for the Leafs to utilize Philippe Myers, and perhaps recall Dakota Mermis, who was reassigned back to the minors yesterday in a corresponding move for when Tanev was activated off of IR.