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

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.

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.

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

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.