The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Chris Tanev to a six-year, $27MM contract. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $4.5MM. This signing vindicates Toronto’s acquisitions of Tanev’s rights following the draft, with the Leafs sending a 2026 seventh-round back to the Dallas Stars.
Tanev has become one of the league’s most sought after defensive-defensemen, making his looming free agency headlining news when it was learned that he wouldn’t re-sign with the Dallas Stars. Dallas paid a pretty penny for Tanev at the Trade Deadline, dealing away prospect Artem Grushnikov, a 2024 second-round pick used on Jacob Battaglia, and a 2026 third-round pick. But Tanev quickly vindicated their efforts, seamlessly stepping onto the team’s top line. He only managed five points in 19 regular season games, bleak scoring that dropped to just two points in 19 postseason games, but Tanev made sure to find other ways to be effective. He recorded 30 hits and 73 blocked shots during the postseason, leading the league in the latter stat even despite being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals.
The defiant showing in Dallas continued the legend around Tanev’s defensive impacts. He began his career as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Vancouver Canucks in 2010 following the end of his freshman year at R.I.T. Vancouver put Tanev to quick work, awarding him the first 29 games of his NHL career in the 2010-11 season. He’d record just one assist as a rookie, adding two more in 25 NHL games during his sophomore season, while still searching for an everyday role in the NHL. He’d find his first two NHL goals in year three, posting seven points in 38 games, and finally command an everyday role in the lineup in year four.
Tanev quickly found his way to Vancouver’s top pairing in his first full year, averaging nearly 21 minutes of ice time a game and scoring 17 points in 64 games during the 2013-14 campaign. He found the style that works for him that year, holding firmly to it in the 10 seasons since. Now 34, Tanev has accumulated 792 games and 157 points in the NHL, spread across three teams.
Toronto will soon become Tanev’s fourth organization, with this deal returning him to his hometown club and finally awarding Toronto a top-line defender they can trust. It’s been a grueling few years for the Leafs, who have had to lean on players like T.J. Brodie and Jake McCabe to fill top-pair minutes next to stout offensive-defenseman Morgan Rielly. Tanev’s addition should form a much more natural pairing with Rielly. The two are opposites in the best way – and Tanev’s control over the back end could give Rielly a chance to once again chase high-scoring, after posting 58 points this year and 68 points two seasons ago.
With the Tanev deal in place, Toronto is down to just $7.58MM in cap space, with one forward spot and two goalie spots yet to be filled. They’re likely to prioritize adding a backup goalie next, after extending Joseph Woll and expressing interest in Anthony Stolarz.
Rather have Pesce for a million more and 5 years younger
Yeah, that’s a long term for a guy that age that plays that hard. But what does Treliving care? History says he’ll be gone before the end of that Tanev contract,
Six years for a dude who is 35 in December and is already not exactly known for an ability to stay healthy. Seems like a risky move.
He will be on Robidas Island in 3 years. Needed the extra years to bring down the AAV
2 years in and he’s gonna be on robidas island but legitimately
Isn’t Tanev 34yo? Leafs expecting a Chelios end to his career?
It’s a risky move in that the deputy commissioner basically warned Toronto against circumventing the cap by signing a guy not quite 35 years old who will probably retire after 2 years.
35+ you’re on the hook capwise for an early retirement. Not 34. He turns 35 6ish months from now.
Treliving calling his bluff basically.
Such a typical Leafs O/P. They’re already regretting it.
HORRIBLE signing. Leafs are going nowhere. Again. Until they divulge themselves of two of AM, Willy, Marner and JT they will NEVER win anything.
*diverge?
Yeah wrong word sorry. Was so angry when I read this lol.
6 years?
As a non-Torontonian
Bwahahahahahahahahaha
Yeah, Treveling is going Cup or bust. He’s either going to be a hero in GTA or won’t be with the organization by the time the bar bill is due.
What surprises me is that OWNERSHIP signed off on it.
I don’t think ownership cares about specific expenses; the Leafs could spend $200M/season and still be profitable.
Brad Treliving moment