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.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without John Tavares for some time after a freak injury at a recent practice put him on the shelf. Tavares left a Maple Leafs workout early when an inadvertent trip and awkward fall forced him to suffer a lower-body injury.

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.

John Tavares was taking part in a drill towards the end of practice Wednesday. The Toronto Maple Leafs centre got his feet tangled with defenceman Chris Tanev and fell awkwardly to the ice. Tavares stayed down before skating off the ice hunched over in pain.

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 is being evaluated after sustaining an apparent leg injury during Wednesday's practice.