First-Year Maple Leafs D-Man Tanev Quickly Making His Mark With Robust Defensive Game

When the Maple Leafs signed veteran defenseman Chris Tanev to a six-year, $27-million contract last summer, we’d harbor a guess that the average Toronto fan didn’t know much about Tanev’s game. Of course, Tanev was known in Calgary, Vancouver and Dallas, where he spent his first 14 NHL seasons and his first 792 regular-season games. But because Tanev wasn’t an elite offensive producer, fans outside his areas of impact didn’t notice how consistently solid he was, night in and night out.

Well, after 15 regular-season games in Leafs Land, Tanev is starting to see a greater appreciation for what he brings to the table – namely, a robust physical game, a no-nonsense approach when he does have the puck, an elite and fearless ability to block shots, and a sky-high panic threshold no matter where he is on the ice. And while Tanev is currently fourth on Toronto’s ‘D’ in terms of average ice time – he’s averaging 19:27 of ice time, down slightly from his average of 19:50 in 56 games with the Flames in 2023-24, and up slightly from his average of 19:13 in 19 games with the Stars that same season – he’s become an essential part of the Buds’ formula for winning.

Whether he’s been forming a great shutdown duo with veteran Jake McCabe on the Leafs’ second ‘D’ pairing, or excelling on Toronto’s penalty kill (averaging 3:34 of time shorthanded), Tanev has been exactly what Leafs GM Brad Treliving hoped for when he signed the 34-year-old. For instance, in Friday’s 3-1 win over Detroit, Tanev logged 22:27 of ice time – his second-highest total in that department this year – and he had his second-most shifts of the season at 32. In addition, Tanev blocked four shots against the Red Wings, bumping up his season total in that regard to a league-best 52 blocks. That’s what you call a needle-mover.

Tanev’s average annual salary of $4.5-million (all financial data via Puck Pedia) is $500,000 less than what the Leafs paid in the past four seasons for veteran D-man T.J. Brodie. With due respect to the 34-year-old Brodie, Tanev is proving to be a much better investment for the Buds. Tanev has generated just three assists this season, but he wasn’t acquired to produce points. He’s a huge upgrade on Brodie in many respects, and he’s quickly become a tone-setter for this Toronto squad.

If there is a concern about Tanev, it’s his ability to stay healthy. Indeed, in his NHL career, Tanev has played 70 games or more in just two seasons. That’s a product of how willingly and regularly he puts his body on the line – and some of it can be chalked up to bad luck – but Tanev’s usage and corrosive style of play has almost always sidelined him for stretches of time.

But that’s where Toronto’s defensive depth comes into play. Treliving was preparing to deal with projected injuries when he signed veterans Jani Hakanpaa and Philippe Myers to contracts this year. If Tanev can play a full schedule, the Leafs will see that as a bonus. But they know the toll Tanev puts his body through, and they happily brought him aboard knowing they might be without his services from time to time.

All things considered, Tanev has been outstanding for Toronto thus far this year. He’s probably not going to be one of the three stars in any game, but that’s fine with Leafs brass. Tanev just has to do what he’s become known for doing – being a dependable, hard-nosed on-ice force – and Buds coach Craig Berube will be thrilled. Tanev has been well worth the investment the Leafs have made in him, and if Toronto does go far in the Stanley Cup playoffs next spring, it will be in no small part due to Tanev’s terrific influence on the franchise.

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