Brad Treliving’s taste in players, especially defencemen, is not hard to figure out. Size, snarl, and “snot” have been a focus since last offseason when Treliving was hired, and the Toronto Maple Leafs roster has transformed to fit this style since.
Heading into this offseason, the number one priority was obvious. The Leafs needed a right-handed defenceman, badly.
There were rumours and speculation around a number of options, Matt Roy and Brandon Montour included, but one name stuck out more than others.
Chris Tanev was a target for Treliving at last year’s trade deadline, so it wasn’t a surprise when he traded for the UFA’s rights during the 2024 NHL Draft. Tanev is seemingly a perfect fit, a right-handed shutdown defenceman who will be the best RD the Leafs have seen in years.
That being said, there are still some options and question marks that come with Tanev’s signing. So, let’s dig in.
A perfect fit
As soon as Tanev put pen to paper, he became the Leafs number one defensive player, and their best defenceman. Only Morgan Rielly compares.
Tanev is absolutely shutdown, sacrificing his body to block shots and suppressing net front chances like no one else in the league. Though he is old, Tanev’s play hasn’t fallen off a bit. His playoff run with the Dallas Stars was incredible, and undoubtedly earned him a raise heading into free agency.
With T.J. Brodie falling off a cliff last year, the Leafs had a massive hold at 1RD. Not only did they lose their best defensive defenceman, but they also lost Rielly’s best partner and left him stranded (again).
Brodie was not Tanev good, but was still one of the best defenders in the NHL. It’s clear Rielly needs someone cut from that cloth to play his best, and Tanev fits the mould perfectly. In fact, he may be the best example of the mould in the whole league.
There might not be a better fit in the NHL for the Leafs than Tanev, which makes the signing so exciting. He’ll slot in the top pair, the top penalty kill unit, and will probably play the most minutes on the team.
A number one right defenceman has been the biggest need for Toronto for what, the whole Matthews era? Finally, the Leafs have one.
What Tanev brings
As said before, Tanev is undoubtedly a top defender in hockey. He eliminates scoring chances as well as anyone, blocks shots, and evades forecheckers.
Tanev gives 100% effort every shift, which will hopefully set the tone for the rest of the roster. It’s not as if the Leafs core doesn’t try, but they do seem to coast from time to time. Tanev’s motor should rub off on the team.
The underrated part of Tanev’s game is his puck moving. Everyone knows his ability in his own end, but what’s been lost a bit in the noise surrounding his signing is his ability to start a breakout, forcing the puck up the ice.
It’s another reason the fit is so perfect in Toronto, as the Leafs right side has been filled with guys who don’t help get the puck out at all. Ilya Lyubushkin and Joel Edmundson were the adds at the deadline last year, and while they can clear the front of the net, when they get hemmed, they get hemmed.
Tanev is slick with the puck, can evade forecheckers the best on the Leafs, and is an amazing passer. He’ll use his size to dust off attackers, skate north, and send darts to the forwards in transition.
He’s not going to light up the score sheet, obviously, but his hockey IQ leads to offence. A lot of it starts in the defensive zone, but a transition attack is something the Leafs have been missing, and should excel at, with their personnel.
Tanev still embodies everything Treliving seems to love in his blueliners, he’s big, throws hits, and can be mean, but it’s not at the expense of other areas of the ice. Tanev will help the Leafs everywhere, even if he’s not necessarily producing points.
Is six years worth it?
The biggest question mark when it comes to the signing is the six-year term. Not many 34-year-olds in the NHL get a contract until they’re 40, so what gives?
Well, the Leafs are in cap hell. That’s not a surprise to anyone, and with William Nylander and Auston Matthews getting raises heading into 2024–25, Treliving needed to get creative.
There are basically three outcomes the Leafs should expect. Two work, and one would be tough to swallow.
Scenario one is that Tanev plays well all through the contract. His level of play for $4.5M a year is a steal, so if the Leafs can get six years of good hockey from Tanev, the contract will be one of the best in the league. While his skating is good, Tanev doesn’t rely on it as much as his brains, so his IQ could help as he gets into his late 30s.
But this is very unlikely. We all saw how age caught up to Brodie last season, and he’s only 34. Tanev is a stud, so maybe his quality of play will last a while longer, but he also has a history of injuries and plays like he’s invincible. He’s a tone-setter when it comes to effort, and while it’s helped him throughout his career, it could end up putting the Leafs in a tough spot if his play dips significantly.
The scariest part of scenario two is if his play gets worse quickly. Tanev is 34, and while he looked amazing last year, the aging curve starts to hit right about now for a lot of guys. There’s a world where the Leafs get only one good year of Tanev, leaving them holding on to a big contract for a very long time.
The fix to this would be scenario three, where Tanev falls off but hits LTIR for however long the rest of the contract is.
For a warrior like Tanev, there’s always going to be some sort of injury. Especially as he gets older, there will be enough “evidence” that he needs to be on LTIR that it won’t be an issue. Other teams might be angry, but there shouldn’t be much problem proving Tanev is hurt if he ends up on LTIR.
This is what Treliving is probably banking on. Hopefully, get four good years of Tanev, and if he needs to “retire”, throw him on LTIR and call it a day. An issue would arise if Tanev says he still wants to play, but that’s something they surely discussed and won’t happen for years.
The goal is to compete for however long Matthews is under contract. Adding Tanev for the duration of said deal is helping the team. If the end of Tanev’s six years looks rough, it won’t matter if he helped bring the team success.
Here’s to hoping
However you want to slice it, signing Tanev for six years is a risk. But you can’t win a Cup without gambling, and this is a worthy gamble by Treliving.
If Tanev looks as good as he has, the Leafs blueline is probably the best we’ve seen in the Matthews era. Good bluelines win championships, and Toronto has been missing one for too long. Tanev could be a difference-maker.
And it’s not forgotten that this team’s issue in the playoffs has been scoring, but Tanev will help with that, too. Especially with new head coach Craig Berube, Tanev’s breakout ability will help a transition game that’s been missing from the Leafs.
Maybe the contract looks bad in a few years, but the goal is to win a Stanley Cup now. Tanev brings the Leafs closer to that goal.
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