The Toronto Maple Leafs made a move to bolster their defensive corps by acquiring the signing rights to defenseman Chris Tanev from the Dallas Stars on Saturday.
In exchange, Toronto sent a 2026 seventh-round draft pick and prospect Max Ellis to Dallas.
Tanev, 34, is poised to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. By securing his rights ahead of time, the Maple Leafs gain an exclusive window to negotiate a contract with Tanev before he becomes available to other teams.
Toronto’s move reflects their anticipation of strong interest in Tanev on the open market.
Known for his adeptness as a right-shot defenseman, Tanev is seen as a potential top-pairing partner for Morgan Rielly, addressing a longstanding need for defensive stability in Toronto’s lineup.
Chris Tanev (Photo: Tony Gutierrez)
The Maple Leafs had previously shown interest in acquiring Tanev before the March trade deadline but were unsuccessful.
Instead, he was traded from Calgary to Dallas, where he posted one goal and five points in 19 regular-season games, logging significant ice time averaging nearly 20 minutes per game.
General Manager Brad Treliving, who has a history with Tanev from their time together in Calgary, spoke about the acquisition during the NHL draft in Las Vegas, emphasizing Tanev’s defensive prowess and leadership qualities.
“He’s an elite defensive player,” Treliving remarked. “He’s an absolute warrior and a culture carrier for your room. I know the player well. We’ll start working on [a contract] now, and I’m eager for the opportunity to speak with him directly.”
Tanev, a native of the Toronto area, could potentially sign a contract of up to seven years with the Maple Leafs, pending negotiations.
