‘The head of the snake’: How Chris Tanev personifies the Leafs’ new-attitude defense
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Kristen Shilton
TORONTO — If Chris Tanev earned a nickname this season, it might be “vintage.”
The 35-year-old defenseman is turning back the clock on Toronto’s blue line, with a showcase of physical sacrifice in the name of team success. The results are not only some of his best ever, but he has helped elevate the Leafs where they need it most. That’s a tall order from one player — unless you’re Tanev, the emerging crown jewel in Toronto’s defense who is even captivating the competition.
“He’s kind of like the head of the snake back there on their back end,” said Matthew Tkachuk, who spent two seasons as Tanev’s teammate in Calgary. “I’ve always said how great a player he’s been for years. But to see him at this stage, and continuing to do it year after year, it’s incredible. You can tell just by the way he conducts himself and talks to [his] team and blocks shots and leads by example … I’ve seen it. It’s no surprise to see what he’s doing now.”
Tanev’s tenacity might be no great shock, but even Tkachuk couldn’t have predicted how Tanev has helped turn the Leafs into a two-headed monster — one not only capable of scoring many goals, but setting a solid defensive tone, too.
To put it charitably, goal suppression hasn’t been Toronto’s forte over the past decade.
It’s on full display now throughout the Leafs’ postseason run, and Tanev has turned his own play up a notch further in Toronto’s second-round series against the Florida Panthers.
According to Stathletes, Tanev has absorbed more hits (81) in the playoffs than any skater, and he’s second in blocked shots (25). He’s also the Leafs’ postseason leader in plus-minus (+5) and was tops in that category during the regular season too (+31) when he and Jake McCabe produced a plus-11 goal differential at 5-on-5.
If all those bodily beatings have taken a toll on Tanev, you’d never know it from the smile — revealing a gap from some teeth dislodged along the way — etched permanently on his face.
“Every day is a great day,” he said, when asked how he’s feeling. “You wake up and you’re happy and you come to the rink.”
That sunny disposition is another Tanev hallmark, one that works in tandem with his ferocious on-ice attitude. There’s a complexity to the veteran’s character — he’s known to be unassuming, a silent observer who’s quietly funny. Tanev doesn’t court the spotlight, but it has found him in these playoffs where a commanding individual performance has propelled Toronto during its most promising playoff run in years. Attention was bound to follow.
“He’s a guy who goes out and gives it his all every single game,” Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner said. “It’s something you really love to have on your team. He puts his body on the line every single shift as well. I think that’s why we’re having so much success is because of him.”
WHEN IT COMES to playoff hockey, you’ve got to “play each night like you’re willing to die on that ice,” according to veteran Leafs forward Max Pacioretty.
That’s Tanev’s style year-round. And the Leafs have needed a player like him on defense for too long.
Toronto general manager Brad Treliving knew Tanev could be a difference-maker from his time as the Flames’ GM during Tanev’s four-year tenure with the team. He anchored Calgary’s back end right up until Treliving’s successor in Calgary, Craig Conroy, traded him to Dallas in February 2024 as the Flames entered a rebuilding phase.
Tanev was a pending unrestricted free agent at the time, and a coveted right-shot defender like him wouldn’t last long on the free agent market. Treliving wanted early access to Tanev’s potential services and acquired his rights from the Stars last June in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick and prospect Max Ellis. The move gave Toronto an exclusive window to negotiate with Tanev toward a long-term deal, and by July 1 they had come together on a six-year, $27 million contract.
The Toronto native was officially coming home. And Tanev’s reputation as a grinder preceded him right into the Leafs’ room. He was then fresh off Dallas’ run to a Western Conference finals appearance, a stretch where Tanev led the playoff field in blocked shots (73 in 19 games) after finishing fourth in that category during the regular season (207).
Craig Berube was also new to the Leafs, coming on board for his first season as head coach, and Berube’s north-south playstyle fit in perfectly with Tanev’s take-no-prisoners perspective.
“He’s an old school type of guy,” Berube said. “He’s a warrior. He’s a competitive person. He’s right up there with all the ones that have been around, laying his body on the line every night, whether it’s a block, or taking a hit to make a play. You name it. He’s going to lay it on the line.”
That’s been painfully clear in the Leafs’ series against Florida. Tanev has taken a beating from the Panthers in stride, even when it has hurt. There was the hit from behind by Brad Marchand in Game 4; Tanev simply popped back up like a kernel — just like he did following a crushing hit in Game 2 (although Tanev was a bit slower off the ice on that one). He was also crushed by Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe in the first period of Friday’s Game 3 — but not before he got the puck to McCabe.
It was only moments later that John Tavares scored to extend the Leafs’ lead in that one. Consider Tanev with a third assist there, from executing the sort of game-changing move that can give the opposition fits.
“That’s the strength of him, is that he’ll hang onto the puck an awful lot to make plays,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “And he makes plays. He’s probably underrated in some of his puck movement. He’s been doing that forever. He blocks shots, takes hits; keeps playing.”
Others may wince in the wake of Tanev’s fearlessness. The thought process is just second nature now though.
“Sometimes you’re trying to draw guys in and sort of absorb a hit before you move [the puck],” he said. “Probably there are some times where I can move it a little quicker, but that’s just playoff hockey and that’s what happens.”
Tanev isn’t one to bellyache either, whether he’s feeling the burn or not. It’s an inspiring commitment that has rubbed off on Tanev’s teammates: If he’s willing to put his weight into every shift, then the group’s collective defensive effort has to be there, too.
“You see some plays and you think after the game he’s going to be complaining about it, and you don’t hear a word from him about it,” Pacioretty said. “He just goes about his business. And that was throughout the entire year. You see a shot block earlier in the year, and you’re like, ‘Oh, man, you must be hurting or limping for days’ and he just comes back to the rink like nothing happened.
“So he’s extremely tough, and he’s willing to sacrifice everything for the team, and that doesn’t go unnoticed in that room.”
By just how much, exactly?
“He’s up there [as toughest teammate],” defenseman Simon Benoit said. “He’s got to be up there, like, top one.”
TANEV HAS MANY TALENTS on the ice.
He’s got a few off it, too. And, like plenty else about him, learning how Tanev spends his downtime was an eye-opener.
“I found out he’s doing schoolwork on the road a lot, which I think is crazy,” Marner said. “But he’s dedicated to working hard, and anything he starts he wants to finish and that’s something you appreciate. It’s impressive.”
Tanev didn’t exactly plan on textbooks filling his suitcase as an NHL player. Then again, he didn’t see a global pandemic coming, either. But when the league shut down in 2020, Tanev decided to make the most of it, picking up on the finance degree he started as a player at Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009.
“I went to school for a year and left and took a ten-year break,” Tanev joked. “When COVID happened, my wife was like, ‘why don’t you start taking classes [again]?” We were just sitting at home. And I’ve been doing it since. So I’m almost done.”
The business side of life comes “naturally” to Tanev, something he hinted at when explaining why he wanted to sign with Toronto in the first place. When asked at the time why he would want to leave a place like Texas, with its low state income tax, to be in Canada, where taxes are notably higher, Tanev had an educated answer.
“You do have the lower state tax [in Texas], but I’ve played in Canada for 14 years [between Vancouver and Calgary from 2010-14],” he said. “I’m from [Toronto], and my wife’s family is from close to here. There’s also a tax when you leave Canada to become a U.S. citizen — there’s a departure tax to leave Canada.”
Avoiding that deemed depositions tax — accrued when a Canadian permanently relocates elsewhere — showed a glimpse into Tanev’s financial savvy, and illustrated how, just like when he’s patrolling the Leafs’ blue line, he is constantly trying to stay in front of the competition.
“He’s a stud back there,” forward Matthew Knies said. “I think he’s always watching. He’s thinking ahead, making the play and getting the puck out of his own zone, and blocking shots. That’s what it takes to win.”
It’s boring, almost, to watch Tanev in action. He’s so rarely out of position or causing cringe-worthy turnovers that have poisoned playoff runs for Toronto in the past. There’s a self-assurance to Tanev that radiates as part of his personality.
“[He’s a] calming presence,” Marner said. “If anyone knows him off the ice, he’s one-of-a-kind, he’s very calm and to himself. Every once in a while you’ll hear him make a joke, which is usually pretty funny.”
What is no laughing matter is how critical Tanev is to Toronto’s hope of denying the Panthers another Cup Final appearance — and attempting to make one of their own. The Leafs held a 2-0 series lead over Florida before the Panthers defended home ice with a pair of victories to pull even at 2-2. When the puck drops on Game 5 in Toronto, it’s officially a best-of-three, though the Leafs still have home-ice advantage to work with there.
To finish the job, the Leafs will take everything Tanev can give — but they can’t afford to lose him in the process, either. There was a collective inhale when Tanev exited Game 3 for several shifts after a shot block; turns out, it was only a broken skate.
“Frustrating,” according to Tanev, to even miss a few minutes at this time of year when his contributions are critical.
“He’s done this for a long time,” said Berube, on Tanev’s refusal to shy away from harm. “So, I’m not going to talk to him about changing.”
Toronto wouldn’t dream of it. Tanev is leading by example on what it takes to truly be all-in. If the rest of Tanev’s teammates follow suit, there’s no telling how far Toronto can take their postseason run.
“He’s as tough as they come,” McCabe said of his partner. “He’s so steady. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. We’re lucky to have him.”
There has been no shortage of excitement already this NHL offseason. Following the Florida Panthers‘ second consecutive Stanley Cup championship — and seemingly never-ending celebration — the annual period of roster modification has begun.
The 2025 NHL draft included 224 prospects finding new homes, and the weekend included trades for Noah Dobson, Charlie Coyle and John Gibson. On Monday, a slew of re-signings, and the trade of Mitch Marner, took several big names off the free agent big board.
Below you will find our continuously updated free agency tracker for 2025, featuring a list of every player signed, including average annual value of the contract in most cases. Analysis of the biggest deals can be found here.
Note that the newest deals are on top, denoted by date.
Draft recap: All 224 picks
Grades for all 32 teams
Winners and losers
July 3
The Hurricanes have signed the most coveted free agent left on the board; former Jet Nikolaj Ehlers is heading to Carolina via a six-year, $8.5 million AAV contract.
The Sharks are building an elite young core of skilled players, but the front office is also surrounding them with veterans to show the youngsters the ropes. That latter trend continued Thursday, with San Jose agreeing to terms on a two-year, $6.5 million AAV pact with defenseman Dmitry Orlov.
July 2
One of the most legendary old guys without a Stanley Cup, Brent Burns is joining the Avalanche on a one-year contract to try to fill that gap on his résumé.
Perhaps acknowledging that they will no longer be in the Nikolaj Ehlers business, the Jets added a seasoned middle-six winger instead in Gustav Nyquist, who is agreeing to a one-year, $3.25 million pact.
Defenseman Alexander Alexeyev has switched sides in the Capitals-Penguins rivalry! He’ll patrol the blue line in Pittsburgh next season, thanks to a one-year, $775,000 deal.
The Pius Suter Derby is over. The veteran forward will be plying his trade for the Blues, inking a two-year, $4 million AAV pact with the club.
The big addition for the Golden Knights this offseason was Mitch Marner, but they’re making depth moves too, including signing defenseman Kaedan Korczak to a four-year, $3.25 million AAV contract.
Winnipeg: Cold in the winter. Detroit: Slightly less cold in the winter. Mason Appleton is about to find out after signing a two-year, $2.9 million AAV contract.
The Devils saw enough out of Cody Glass during the 2024-25 season to re-sign him. His new deal is for two years, $2.5 million AAV.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia, native Curtis Lazar is headed back to Western Canada, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Oilers.
Veteran winger Anthony Mantha has made the rounds in recent seasons, and his next NHL home is in Pittsburgh, inking a one-year, $2.5 million pact.
July 1
After a brief stint for an American-based team, Andrew Mangiapane is back in Western Canada, inking a two-year, $3.6 million AAV deal with the Oilers.
Forward Justin Brazeau has chosen the Penguins as his next NHL destination, inking a two-year, $1.5 million AAV contract.
The Devils continued adding to their forward depth, adding veteran scoring winger Evgenii Dadonov via a one-year, $1 million deal.
The July 1 goalie rush continues. The Mammoth are the latest team to make an addition in the crease, inking Stanley Cup champion Vitek Vanecek via a one-year, $1.5 million deal.
Offensive defenseman John Klingberg is headed to San Jose, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $4 million pact with the Sharks.
One of the top remaining free agents available, veteran forward Mikael Granlund has landed with the Ducks on a three-year deal.
Veteran bottom-six forward Lars Eller has chosen the Senators as his next team, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $1.25 million deal.
The Penguins have extended their business relationships with Philip Tomasino (one year, $1.75 million) and Connor Dewar (one year, $1.1 million).
As part of the effort to retake the title of Florida’s best hockey team, the Lightning have inked Pontus Holmberg to a two-year, $1.55 million AAV contract.
The Wild have added Nico Sturm. The former Panther has signed a two-year, $2 million AAV contract.
The Sabres have entered the chat! The club’s first big deal of the day is inking goaltender Alex Lyon to a two-year, $1.5 million AAV contract.
The Kraken add to their goaltending depth, adding former Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray on a one-year, $1 million contract.
The Islanders had themselves a great draft weekend, and they continue the momentum in free agency, adding veteran forward Jonathan Drouin on a two-year, $4 million AAV deal.
The Stars are on the board. Hours after announcing the official hiring of Glen Gulutzan as the club’s new head coach, the Stars have brought back forward Radek Faksa on a two-year, $3 million AAV contract.
Earlier on Tuesday the Kings lost defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to the Rangers. To help fill that blue-line gap, they signed Cody Ceci (four years, $4.5 million AAV) and Brian Dumoulin (three years, $4 million AAV). They also signed goaltender Anton Forsberg for two years, $2.25 million AAV.
Defenseman Nick Perbix has thus far only known NHL life as a member of the Lightning. He’ll head to Nashville next, agreeing to a two-year, $2.75 million AAV deal with the Predators.
The Panthers have gone to the veteran defenseman well again, signing Jeff Petry to a one-year, $775,000 contract.
Fresh off a Stanley Cup with the Panthers, defenseman Nate Schmidt is joining the Mammoth by way of a three-year, $3.5 million AAV contract.
The NHL career of James van Riemsdyk will continue, as he has agreed to terms with the Red Wings on a one-year, $1 million deal. Separately, the Wings added Jacob Bernard-Docker on a one-year, $875,000 contract.
The Bruins add to their depth, agreeing to terms with Sean Kuraly on a two-year, $1.85 million AAV pact.
Another key member of the Panthers’ championship roster is returning. Veteran forward Tomas Nosek has agreed to a one-year deal.
After completing the 2024-25 season with the Jets, veteran forward Brandon Tanev is sticking in the Central Division, but heading to Utah by way of a three-year, $2.5 million AAV deal.
Take another goalie’s name off the big board! Kaapo Kahkonen has agreed to terms with the Canadiens on a one-year deal worth $1.15 million. In a separate deal, the club also signed forward Sammy Blais.
The winner of the 2020 Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA men’s hockey, defenseman Scott Perunovich has signed a one-year deal with the Mammoth.
In need of some backup goaltending depth, the Islanders agreed to terms with “Big Save” Dave Rittich on a one-year deal.
Diminutive, versatile forward Kailer Yamamoto is the latest player added by the Mammoth, by way of a one-year, $775,000 pact.
Veteran center Nick Bjugstad has made his decision: He’s joining the Blues by way of a two-year contract.
Veteran defenseman Ryan Lindgren finished the 2024-25 season with the Avalanche, and he’ll head northwest for his next NHL home, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $4.5 million AAV contract.
The Senators haven’t been able to lure any new free agents to the club yet, but their re-signing game remains strong. After re-upping with Claude Giroux, the Sens also continued their business relationship with Nick Cousins via a one-year, $825,000 pact.
Sure to be a fan favorite in Beantown, veteran forward Tanner Jeannot has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Bruins, with a $3.4 million AAV.
A sixth-round pick in the 2016 draft, winger Michael Pezzetta is going from Montreal to Toronto via a two-year, $787,500 AAV contract.
Connor Brown impressed a lot of viewers with inspired play during the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. Now, he’ll bring that energy to the Devils, who have signed him to a four-year, $3 million AAV contract.
The defenseman market is one key player smaller, as the Rangers have agreed to terms with Vladislav Gavrikov on a seven-year, $7 million AAV contract.
One of the top goaltending options available is off the board, with Dan Vladar joining the Flyers via a two-year, $3.35 million AAV contract.
Veteran feisty forward Corey Perry is switching sides in the Oilers-Kings rivalry, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with salary and bonuses worth $3.5 million. Separately, the Kings also signed veteran forward Joel Armia to a two-year deal with a $2.5 million AAV.
One of the top available free agents has made a decision … and he’ll be re-signing. Brock Boeser is back with the Canucks by way of a seven-year, $7.3 million AAV contract.
Parker Kelly will continue his career with the Avalanche, agreeing to terms on a four-year contract with a $1.7 million AAV.
Veteran forward Colin Blackwell will be returning to the Stars, agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with a $775,000 AAV.
Christian Dvorak has moved on from the Canadiens, agreeing to a one-year, $5.4 million contract with the Flyers.
Noah Juulsen, welcome to Philly! The Flyers have inked the 28-year-old defenseman to a one-year, $900,000 deal.
Defenseman Ryan Johnson is sticking with the Sabres, agreeing to terms on a three-year deal with a $775,000 AAV.
The top-rated goaltender slated to hit free agency this offseason will not make it to market; Jake Allen is back with the Devils via a five-year contract with a $1.8 million AAV.
Veteran offensive defenseman Tony DeAngelo will be back with the Islanders for 2025-26, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
June 30
The Red Wings will be continuing their relationship with veteran forward Patrick Kane, inking a one-year, $3 million extension.
The band is getting back together. After re-upping with Sam Bennett last week, the Panthers re-signed both Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand on Monday.
Rumors of a Mitch Marner trade popped up during draft weekend, and they came to fruition Monday, as the Maple Leafs inked Marner to an eight-year, $12 million average annual value extension, then traded him to the Golden Knights for Nicolas Roy.
The Oilers will not be allowing one of their promising young players to leave via offer sheet, as they signed restricted free agent defenseman Evan Bouchard to a four-year, $10.5 million AAV contract.
Veteran defenseman Ivan Provorov would have been one of the most sought-after blueliners on the free agent market. Instead, he’ll be back with the Blue Jackets for the foreseeable future, agreeing to a seven-year, $8.5 million AAV deal.
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