Chris Tanev has returned home to Toronto. About ninety minutes before NHL free agency opened on Monday, the veteran defenseman and the Toronto Maple Leafs came to an agreement on a six-year, US$27-million contract. “Consummate pro,” Brad Treliving, general manager, stated.
TORONTO: It’s Chris Tanev back home.
About ninety minutes before NHL free agency opened on Monday, the veteran defenseman and the Toronto Maple Leafs came to an agreement on a six-year, US$27-million contract.
“Consummate pro,” Brad Treliving, general manager, stated. “(Plays) hard minutes against top players.”
The Leafs then signed Jani Hakanpaa to a two-year, $3 million contract and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to a four-year, $14 million deal, adding even more depth to their blue-line corps.
“One of the things we really wanted to focus in on over the course of the summer was trying to augment our defence,” said Treliving. “We thought we did that.”
In 75 games with the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames in 2023–24, Tanev scored 19 points and had two goals.
The 34-year-old Toronto native’s real value, though, is found on the other side of the rink in a tough shutdown position where he is renowned for risking his life to stop shots.
“I’m always trying to win,” Tanev stated when asked where he gets that motivation. That’s what my entire life has been like. My brothers are two years younger than me. We were raised in conflict with one another.
“That’s all we did.”
To get a head start on negotiations, Toronto acquired his rights from Dallas on Saturday for a 2026 seventh-round pick and a minor-league forward with an expiring contract.
Regarding the Leafs, Tanev described them as “a team with elite talent, some of the best players in the world,” citing Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and Auston Matthews. “They’ve been really successful in the regular season. Observing their elite athletes has been impressive.”
With the Vancouver Canucks, Flames, and Stars in 792 regular-season games, the undrafted Tanev has 33 goals and 190 points. He has contributed 13 points in 60 playoff games (one goal, twelve assists).
Tanev proclaimed, “I’m a Toronto kid.” “Definitely excited to raise my family here.”
The right-shooting blueliner appears to be paired with 2016 world championship skating partner Morgan Rielly.
Tanev praised the player as a “great person.” “We had a good relationship. I’ve spoken to him for the past day and a half regarding his potential to play with me. That might work well together.”
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, Ekman-Larsson joins the Leafs. In 80 games in 2023–24, the 32-year-old scored nine goals and accrued 32 points. In 22 playoff games, he added two goals and four assists for a total of six points.
Treliving commented, “Oliver can play both sides.” “Can play on both specialty teams, long, competitive, and adept at moving the puck.
“Bringing him into the in the fold, we were excited about that.”
In 64 games with Dallas last season, Hakanpaa, 32, finished with two goals and twelve points.
In order to strengthen their crease combination, the Leafs extended goaltender Joseph Woll’s contract, which starts in 2025–2026 and pays $10.98 million over three years.
Despite a career-long history of injuries, Woll finished 12-11-1 last season with a 2.94 goals-against average and a.907 save percentage.
The Leafs trailed the Boston Bruins 3-1 going into Game 7, but he came up big in Toronto’s first-round playoff series, winning Games 5 and 6.
However, the 26-year-old sustained a back injury in the closing moments of Game 6 and had to miss the series finale. The final was started by Ilya Samsonov, and Toronto lost 2-1 in overtime.
On Monday, the Leafs re-signed Matt Murray, another goalie who is prone to injuries, for a single season at a cost of $875,000. They also added Anthony Stoloarz to their roster on a two-year, $5 million contract from the Panthers.
In 36 career regular-season games, Woll, who was chosen 62nd overall in the 2016 draft, has a record of 21-13-1, one shutout, a.912 save percentage, and a 2.76 GAA.
With seven playoff games under his belt, he is 3-2 with a 1.78 GAA and a.933 save percentage.
Toronto made two changes on Sunday, re-signing defenseman Timothy Liljegren and winger Max Domi, but on Monday, they lost forward Tyler Bertuzzi to the Chicago Blackhawks in free agency.
The Canadian Press published this report for the first time on July 1, 2024.
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