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Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 UFA’s Still Available After Day One

By Stephen Nixon

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Alex Pietrangelo #27 of the St. Louis Blues looks on during the second period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 11, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Alex Pietrangelo #27 of the St. Louis Blues looks on during the second period of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 11, 2020 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 29: Christopher Tanev #8 of the Vancouver Canucks . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – FEBRUARY 29: Christopher Tanev #8 of the Vancouver Canucks . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

#3. Chris Tanev

The 6-foot-2 right-shot defenseman most recently played with the Vancouver Canucks and would be a perfect addition to the Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line.

In a similar theme as the Simmonds signing, Tanev is also a Toronto native, so you’d hope the desire to return home would be something appealing for him. Toronto has all of the skill in the world, but they need a defensive defenseman like Tanev.

The only right-shot defensemen on the Leafs right now are: Justin Holl and Timothy Liljegren. Brodie plays the right side, but he shoots left.  Lehtonen has the ability to play the right-side and so does the unsigned Travis Dermott.  .

Tanev is a top-four defenseman on any NHL team and would be a perfect addition to eat up minutes alongside Jake Muzzin or Morgan Rielly. He would help slot the rest of the defense in a better position and would provide much defensive help to the penalty kill, as well.

One of the biggest strengths of Tanev’s game is his ability to block shots, as he finishing fourth in the NHL last season in that department with 159 blocks.

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