James Tanner:
If it was up to me, I’d acquire, from the Vancouver Canucks, Chris Tanev.
Tanev is one of the NHL’s best defenseman – and he does it without scoring much. He’s a defensive-defenseman who can move the puck and who limits shots-against.
Most people think a ‘defensive-defenseman’ is a grinder who blocks shots and hits guys, like Roman Polak. Statistics show us that those players are not effective in today’s NHL. Tanev plays a more modern game and is nothing like defensive-defenseman of the past. He rarely gets trapped in his own end, he drives possession and would be a great compliment to a high-flying puck-mover like Jake Gardiner.