Maple Leafs get a solid defenseman with the signing of Chris Tanev – The Hockey Writers – NHL News

As the 2024 NHL Draft drew to a close, the Toronto Maple Leafs were about to make their final selection when deputy commissioner Bill Daly took the stage to announce the trade. The Dallas Stars traded Chris Tanev’s signing rights to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Max Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick.

There has been widespread talk of how the Maple Leafs intend to use Tanev during free agency, especially after trying to acquire him at the 2024 NHL trade deadline. They ultimately failed to acquire him at the deadline, but now, with the final pick in the draft, they have secured Tanev’s signing rights and have another 36 hours to work out an extension.

What might the extension look like?

The Maple Leafs and Tanev will likely reach an agreement before the July 1 deadline. It’s worth noting, however, that Tanev’s agent, Wade Arnott, told TSN’s Pierre LeBrun that they haven’t heard from the Maple Leafs about an extension, but expect to hear soon.

Chris Tanev’s agent, Wade Arnott, says there’s no agreement with the Leafs yet. They haven’t spoken yet. Toronto just acquired his rights, so Arnott clearly expects to hear from the Leafs soon.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 29, 2024

TSN’s Darren Dreger also posted on Twitter expressing hope that the organization would offer Tanev a five- or eight-year deal that would lower the average annual value (AAV), which would help the company meet its capital cap and give it a chance to pursue other areas where the needs occur.

Tanev’s acquisition from Dallas gives Toronto the option to sign for a maximum of 8 years. Sounds crazy, but a longer team helps attract players from more tax-friendly markets and lowers the AAV. Tanev will likely sign for 5-8 years.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 29, 2024

If this is true and the Maple Leafs offer Tanev a five- to eight-year contract, the AAV would have to be around $2-3 million. The reason for this would be that if he signed with another club for two years for $10 million, he would still receive the same amount if he signed for five years for $2 million. This is a contract structuring strategy that the Tampa Bay Lightning used with Nick Paul to help keep key players under contract and increase their chances of winning. Considering Tanev is from Toronto, he may be more than willing to sign this type of deal to play for his childhood club. Tanev will quickly become the next Jake Muzzin for the Maple Leafs. He will likely take over as the voice of reason at the back, giving the team the same stability that Muzzin had before his career was cut short with a neck injury. The Maple Leafs lacked a top defenseman role who could mentor the rest of the defensive core.

Tanev’s fit makes sense

The Maple Leafs have struggled to build their blue line in recent years. Former general manager Kyle Dubas built a forward group but always ignored the need for a better blue line. Current general manager Brad Treliving is known for building a solid defensive core and appears to be making it his number one priority this offseason. Treliving signed Tanev and brought him to the Calgary Flames after he left the Vancouver Canucks, so the two are very familiar with each other, which should make negotiations easier for both sides.

Related: The Maple Leafs should investigate the cost of reuniting with Nazem Kadri

Tanev, a right-handed shooter, will likely slot into the top pair alongside Morgan Rielly and provide him with a more reliable partner for the first time in his career. However, depending on what else the Maple Leafs do in free agency, they may be able to push Tanew to the second pairing, play him alongside Jake McCabe, and form a very solid defensive pairing. It’s nice to see this as an option for the Maple Leafs, as it gives them a little more flexibility to sign another defenseman while knowing that Tanev can play on the right side of either of their top two pairings.

With no contract extension announced yet, it will be a big shock if Tanev is not signed within the next 36 hours. Until then, Leafs Nation is waiting for news to learn the details of the contract. Regardless, the Maple Leafs have acquired Tanev’s rights, which could be the start of a very big and important offseason for Toronto.