Brandon Tanev, a forward for the Seattle Krakens and the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev, talked briefly about his older brother’s offseason signing with his home team.
While visiting Zach Hyman’s golf event for the Edmonton Oilers on July 15, Brandon talked to TSN about his brother’s relocation to Toronto, which was finalized on July 1.
“With Chris being back home now, it’s very exciting for my family and him, so it’s great to see him put on a Leafs’ jersey being a hometown boy,” Brandon Tanev said.
🖊️ We've signed defenceman Chris Tanev to a six-year contract
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 1, 2024
The Tanev brothers, who hail from Toronto, spent time with the Kraken (Brandon), the Calgary Flames, and the Dallas Stars (Chris) during the 2023-24 season as the older Tanev was traded ahead of the March 8 deadline.
“It’s exciting, it’s one of those things where you, as a kid growing up in Toronto, everyone dreams about it and now his has come to reality. So, he’s a great add for them and our family is extremely excited for him,” Tanev said.
Toronto locked Chris Tanev’s signing a few hours before July 1 when free agency opened by trading for his negotiating rights with the Stars. Once the market opened, the Leafs signed Tanev to a large six-year, $27 million contract that runs through his age-40 season.
Chris Tanev has appeared in 792 regular-season games since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Tanev scored 190 points in all those games, split into 33 goals and 157 assists.
Maple Leafs Signing of Chris Tanev Considered ‘Risky’
Tanev is already 34 years old and comes with injury concerns. That, in the eyes of NHL insider Chris Johnston, makes Tanev a ‘risky’ signing.
“The contract is hazardous and lengthy. But on July 4, Johnston claimed on The Chris Johnston Show, “this was exactly the kind of player the Leafs needed and exactly the one who was available.” “I like it short-term for the Leafs for sure, assuming health, which you can’t always assume health for a 34-year-old who has had a series of injuries.”
The Maple Leafs outbid the Stars by a total of $12 million in what is thought to be an overpayment for the elderly defenseman, and they also defeated all other teams attempting to contract the blueliner with a longer term, according to Toronto Star source Nick Kypreos.
Scott Maxwell of Daily Faceoff included Tanev’s contract with Toronto among the “Honorable Mentions” for the ‘worst contracts’ signed in 2024.
“Not a bad addition, but the contract is enough above market value that it doesn’t feel like a win,” Maxwell wrote. “Chris Tanev, in a vacuum, is the perfect add for the Leafs to help their defensive issues, but signing a 34-year-old to a six-year deal is insane.”
