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.

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.

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

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 Toronto Maple Leafs have been dealt a significant blow with John Tavares landing on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury sustained in practice, but they have already make a subsequent roster move to make up for his absence.

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.

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

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.”

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares has been formally listed as week-to-week in his recovery from a lower-body injury suffered in Wednesday’s practice, and Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli provided a more detailed timeline on Friday.

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.