Leafs sign Chris Tanev
The Leafs biggest signing in free agency was defenseman Chris Tanev. Treliving signed Tanev to a six-year deal worth $4.5 million annually, which will expire at the end of the 2029-30 season when Tanev is 40 years old.
Last season, Tanev split his time between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars. He registered two goals and 17 assists for 19 points in 75 games. Tanev is a defensive defenseman, so don't expect a lot of points.
Although he is 34 years old, Tanev should be able to provide the Leafs with a reliable defensive guy who can allow his offensive defense partner to play to their strength.
The Leafs acquired Tanev's signing rights before the start of free agency, allowing them to negotiate with Tanev and his agent before any other team could. Acquiring his rights cost the Leafs a 2026 seventh-round pick and prospect, Max Ellis. The pick is a long shot to become an NHL player and if they did, it wouldn't be until the end of Tanev's deal. Ellis is currently an unrestricted free agent (UFA).
Tanev is not an overly physical guy (45 hits last season), but his good defensive positioning allows him to make a lot of blocked shots (207). That was the third-most shot blocks in the NHL last season. Colton Parayko with 218 and Moritz Seider with 212 were the only two ahead of him.
While Tanev is old for an NHL defenseman and could face an age-related decline at any time, as long as he maintains the level he was at last year the Leafs will have a star player who is probably the best defensivfe defenseman in the NHL, and if he isn't, he's very close to it.
With an average ice time of 19:41 minutes a game last season, Tanev is the logical choice to become Morgan Rielly's defense partner. If this pair can find chemistry early on in the season, it could help Rielly become a 70-point defenseman.