The veteran defenceman Chris Tanev has a new contract. After spending the season split between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars, he is on the move. The veteran is signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The years haven’t been mentioned, but he will have an AAV of $5 million which is great value for him.
Tanev Lands Contract With Maple Leafs
Top four defenceman don’t grow on trees, and adding a veteran presence like Tanev is a huge bonus. Tanev is not a point producer, but has shown he can chip in offensively. Instead, he focuses on the defensive side of things and suppressing the opposition.
When with the Flames, any pair that Tanev was on was one of the best in limiting the opposition to generating chances. The pairs he was on had the lowest expected goals against per 60 minutes among pairs that logged 50 minutes of ice time. Also, that level of play carried over to the Stars, which made them a much deeper hockey team.
Tanev finished the year with two goals and 19 points. He started majority of his shifts in the defensive zone and went on to finish with 207 blocked shots. When looking for defence, look no further than Tanev. This contract is great for both sides.
What this Means for the Maple Leafs
The Tanev contract makes sense for both sides. Tanev gets his longer term security and the team gets a player they need in the lineup. Top four defenceman do not come around often and Tanev has proven he can be an impact player.
He may not land you the points you need, but he will suppress the opposition. Tanev is a shutdown defenceman and excels at that role. He makes this team deeper and makes them a better contender than they already were.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
