Chris Tanev has been a fantastic defensive defenceman for years. His is often overlooked and deserves more recognition. Each team he has played for he becomes the most valuable defenceman on the team. His willingness to block shots is unbelievable.
Chris Tanev has proven to be a crucial part of the Maple Leafs defensive core, and their struggles during his six-game absence show it.
A rough six-game stretch
Chris Tanev recently missed six straight games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was out with an upper-body injury that he sustained on February 25th against the Boston Bruins. The defenceman took an awkward hit from forward John Beecher. It did not look to be that bad, but Chris Tanev left the game and did not return. He is such a crucial piece of the Toronto Maple Leafs defensive core, so it caused an increase in goals against during his absence.
Since Tanev’s injury, the Maple Leafs had a rough six-game stretch. Some of the worst games during Chris Tanev’s absence included the week of March 2 to the 8. Here the Maple Leafs played four games. The first was a 6–5 thrilling overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Followed by three straight losses against San Jose, Vegas, and Colorado. In this four-game stretch, the Toronto Maple Leafs gave up nineteen goals against. This was brutal to watch as the Maple Leafs defensive core looked in complete disarray.
Thankfully, the Toronto Maple Leafs capped off this six-game stretch with a much-needed shootout win over the Utah Hockey Club. They got some good secondary scoring from Calle Jarnkrok and Simon Benoit who both scored their first goals of the season. These huge goals seemed to put the Maple Leafs in control. However, the team gave up three straight goals in four minutes to blow their commanding lead. Mitch Marner won the game with a spectacular move in the shootout. It was safe to say that the Maple Leafs defensive core desperately needed their defensive defenceman back.
Tanev’s return has provided better defensive structure
Chris Tanev made his anticipated return to the lineup on March 13 against the Florida Panthers. His first two games back in the lineup did not give the Maple Leafs an expected energy boost. They lost a massive game against the Panthers who they are racing for the Atlantic Division title. Then they lost to their rival Ottawa Senators who now only trail the Leafs by four points. Either of these two teams could be playoff opponents for the Maple Leafs.
Tanev has not been the problem since his return. He has been able to lock things down at even strength, only being on the ice for two power play goals against. Tanev provides a lot of stability on the back end for the Maple Leafs. He is currently tied for fifth in blocked shots in the entire NHL. This is an amazing stat, even though it brings worry about potential injuries during the last stretch of the season. It was a great idea for Brad Treliving to add defenceman Brandon Carlo to give Tanev some support.
The offence had been cold over the past few games. They only scored four goals across two games, going 0/4 on the power play. Heading into Monday night’s game against the Calgary Flames, a win was desperately needed by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Auston Matthews led the way with a dominant performance putting up a two-goal performance in a 6–2 win.
Injuries are a worry for Chris Tanev
As Chris Tanev puts his body on the line every game for the Maple Leafs, this brings the worry of injuries. Over the years, he has sustained some serious injuries that have made it a significant challenge for him to play. Lets take a look at some injuries that Tanev’s dealt with.
March 16, 2019
On March 16, 2019, Chris Tanev received a season-ending injury while playing for the Vancouver Canucks. He blocked a shot from Kyle Palmieri of the New Jersey Devils. After this game, Tanec was walking on crutches. This was an ultimate blow for the Canucks who ended up missing the playoffs. This is the kind of incident that the Leafs cannot afford. Tanev’s health is a key factor to the team’s success.
Stanley Cup Playoffs of 2022
During his time with the Calgary Flames, Tanev was an absolute warrior on the defensive core. During the legendary Battle of Alberta series, he played in Games 4 and 5 with multiple injuries. The defenceman played through a torn labrum, a separated shoulder, and a sprained neck. It was truly unbelievable to watch him play through that much pain. These injuries happened at an awful time as Calgary’s season ended in Game 5 against the Edmonton Oilers.
November 27, 2023
On November 27, 2023 Chris Tanev was involved in a scary play. The defenceman laid out to block a shot from Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson. The puck struck Chris Tanev in the face leaving a bloody mess. He left the game but did not miss any significant amount of time. This type of play proves how valuable he is to the Toronto Maple Leafs defensive core. Having a player who will do anything to win is rare in today’s NHL.
