Chris Tanev isn't happy with his coach and GM's decision and voiced displeasure

Chris Tanev was a healthy scratch for Toronto's 4-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, and the veteran defenceman made it clear he is not happy about it.

Tanev said he does not agree with the Maple Leafs' load management plan, but he understands where the organization is coming from and respects the people making the decision.

The reasoning is rooted in recent history.

Tanev played just 11 games last season because of a series of injuries, including a groin issue and core muscle surgery that ended his year.

This season he had already missed nine of Toronto's 18 games before Sunday with an upper-body injury, and he turns 37 next month.

Tanev acknowledged the goal is to have him available in January, February and March, when games carry more weight.

That does not mean he accepted it quietly.

Tanev lobbied multiple times to get into the lineup Sunday, and Jim Hiller said the coaching staff understands his frustration and would love to have him every night, but a plan is in place to protect him.

Toronto already had to lean on a by-committee approach on the back end while Tanev was sidelined, so every night without him has a cost.

Still, he has one assist in nine games, and the team is betting that fewer early-season games will keep him healthier when the standings tighten.

It is a reasonable gamble given his recent injury history, even if the player himself would rather be on the ice.

Toronto faces the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, and Tanev's status for that game will be the next clue about how the plan unfolds.

How often he will be rested remains unclear, and with a player this competitive, that tension is worth watching.

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