With Tavares out for at least four games, a Maple Leafs team that was already light on centre depth will now see its options tested.

Appearing on TSN Toronto 1050's "First Up" on Friday, Dreger suggested that Tavares could be back on the ice in 10 to 14 days if cleared by the Maple Leafs’ medical staff. “As

Toronto will be without one of its biggest contributors for the near future after a drill mishap on Wednesday.

These are tough times, suddenly, around the Toronto Maple Leafs. They’ve had three straight regulation losses for the first time all season, and now there’s an injury to John Tavares. Tavares left practice in obvious discomfort on Wednesday afternoon after getting awkwardly tied up with Chris Tanev during a power-play drill.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube details how the team plans to move forward without the injured John Tavares.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube addressed the team’s challenge without their veteran leader ahead of their victory over the Devils. “We’re going to miss everything,” Berube said. “His production, his leadership, his all-situations play. It’s unfortunate — just bad luck in practice. But we have to move on.”

John Tavares is week to week for the Toronto Maple Leafs with a lower-body injury and was placed on injured reserve Thursday. The center left practice early Wednesday after he took an awkward fall along the boards during a power-play drill.

The Maple Leafs have placed John Tavares on injured reserve with a lower-body injury that he suffered in practice

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body ailment on Thursday and is considered week-to-week, head coach Craig Berube said.

Maple Leafs forward John Tavares was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body ailment Thursday and is considered week-to-week, coach Craig Berube said.