Seattle Kraken forward and younger brother of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev, Brandon shared a few words about his elder signing his hometown team during the offseason.
Brandon attended Edmonton Oilers‘ Zach Hyman‘s golf tournament on July 15 and discussed his brother’s move to Toronto, completed on July 1, via TSN.
“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
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. The Flames traded the older Tanev to Dallas 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,” Brandon Tanev said.
Toronto secured Chris Tanev’s signing a few hours before July 1 when free agency opened by trading for his negotiating rights from the Stars. Once the market opened, the Leafs signed Tanev to a six-year, $27 million contract that will run through his age-40 season.
Chris Tanev has played in 792 regular-season games since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Tanev scored 190 points across those games, split into 33 goals and 157 assists.
Maple Leafs Signing of Chris Tanev Considered ‘Risky’
Tanev is already 34 years old and has some injury concerns. NHL insider Chris Johnston believes that makes Tanev a ‘risky’ signing.
“The contract is long and risky. But, this was exactly the type of player the Leafs needed and exactly the one who was available,” Johnston said on The Chris Johnston Show on July 4. “Assuming health, which you can’t always assume health for a 34-year-old who has had a series of injuries, I like it short-term for the Leafs for sure.”
According to Toronto Star insider Nick Kypreos, other franchises tried to sign the blueliner with a shorter-term but larger AAV. The Maple Leafs outbid the Stars’ offer by $12 million total. Some analysts believe that was an overpayment for the aging defenseman.
This Maple Leafs off-season is off to a nice start. There’s a long way to go to conquer the Atlantic
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.”
Maple Leafs Hockey Approaching Religion Levels
By signing with the Maple Leafs and playing hockey in Toronto, Chris Tanev must get ready to become highly scrutinized daily. His brother Brandon discussed this when speaking to TSN.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be, I’m sure difficult at times, but at the same time, he’s a professional, he takes care of himself, and he understands what it’s going to be like playing in front of his home town. So, he’s very excited for this amazing opportunity and I’m sure he’s looking forward to the season starting,” Brandon said.
One of the Maple Leafs superstars, forward Mitch Marner, echoed a similar sentiment when he spoke to reporters during the end-of-season availability, labeling Toronto’s players as “gods.”
“Obviously, we’re looked upon as… gods here, to be honest,” Marner said on May 6. “Something you really appreciate, the love that you get here from this fan base and this attention is kind of unlike any other.”
Marner, however, is not perceived so much as a god these days in the Leafs’ front office’s eyes. There are rumors about a potential trade away from Toronto popping up daily. Analysts have linked Marner with the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a defenseman. Heavy Sports has also included him in a trade proposal to the New York Rangers in a swap for the Blueshirts captain.
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Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev’s Brother Speaks On His Homecoming