TORONTO — Chris Tanev might earn the nickname `Vintage` for his play this season. The 35-year-old defenseman is performing remarkably, sacrificing his body for the team`s benefit and significantly bolstering the Toronto Maple Leafs` defense. His impact isn`t just felt internally; his play is drawing admiration even from opponents.
“He`s kind of like the head of the snake back there on their back end,” commented Matthew Tkachuk, who played alongside Tanev 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.”
While Tanev`s toughness is well-known, his role in turning the Leafs into a formidable team capable of both high-scoring offense and solid defense might have been less predictable. Historically, goal prevention hasn`t been Toronto`s strength over the past decade.
However, this narrative is shifting during the Leafs` current playoff run, with Tanev elevating his game further in the second-round series against the Florida Panthers.
According to Stathletes, Tanev has absorbed more hits (81) than any other skater in the playoffs and ranks second in blocked shots (25). He also leads the Leafs in postseason plus-minus (+5), mirroring his regular season performance (+31) where he and partner Jake McCabe posted a plus-11 goal differential at 5-on-5.
Despite the physical toll, Tanev maintains a consistent smile, even revealing a gap from lost teeth. When asked about his well-being, he simply states, “Every day is a great day. You wake up and you`re happy and you come to the rink.”
This cheerful disposition complements his fierce on-ice intensity. Tanev is known for a complex personality: humble, observant, and quietly humorous. He avoids the spotlight, but his dominant individual performance in these playoffs – arguably Toronto`s most promising in years – has inevitably drawn attention.
“He`s a guy who goes out and gives it his all every single game,” said Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner. “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.”
Playing for the Team
Veteran Leafs forward Max Pacioretty believes playoff hockey demands players “play each night like you`re willing to die on that ice.” This level of commitment is Tanev`s standard year-round, and it`s precisely the kind of defensive presence the Leafs have needed for a long time.
Toronto general manager Brad Treliving was familiar with Tanev`s potential impact from his time as GM in Calgary, where Tanev anchored the Flames` defense for four years. When Calgary began a rebuild and traded Tanev to Dallas in February 2024, Treliving saw an opportunity.
Recognizing that a coveted right-shot defenseman like Tanev, a pending unrestricted free agent, wouldn`t be available for long, Treliving acquired his rights from the Stars in June, trading a 2026 seventh-round pick and prospect Max Ellis. This move secured an exclusive negotiation window, leading to a six-year, $27 million contract on July 1.
The Toronto native was coming home, bringing with him a reputation as a tenacious grinder. He was fresh off Dallas` run to the Western Conference finals, where he led all playoff skaters with 73 blocked shots in 19 games, building on a regular season where he finished fourth (207 blocked shots).
New head coach Craig Berube`s direct, north-south style of play aligned perfectly with Tanev`s no-nonsense approach.
“He`s an old school type of guy,” Berube noted. “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.”
This willingness to absorb punishment has been vividly displayed against Florida. Tanev has withstood numerous hits, bouncing back quickly from collisions. In one instance, a hit by Carter Verhaeghe in Game 3 knocked him down, but not before he moved the puck to Jake McCabe. Moments later, John Tavares scored to extend the Leafs` lead. Tanev`s play, though seemingly simple, was a crucial, game-altering move.
“That`s the strength of him, is that he`ll hang onto the puck an awful lot to make plays,” observed Panthers coach Paul Maurice. “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.”
While Tanev`s fearlessness might make others wince, for him, it`s second nature. “Sometimes you`re trying to draw guys in and sort of absorb a hit before you move [the puck],” he explained. “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 rarely complains, regardless of how much he`s hurting. This inspiring commitment has influenced his teammates; seeing his dedication encourages a collective defensive effort.
“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 commented. “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.”
Just how tough is he? “He`s up there [as toughest teammate],” said defenseman Simon Benoit. “He`s got to be up there, like, top one.”
Beyond the Rink
Tanev possesses many skills on the ice, but his off-ice pursuits also reveal surprising depth.
“I found out he`s doing schoolwork on the road a lot, which I think is crazy,” Marner shared. “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 initially plan to juggle textbooks with his NHL career. However, the 2020 league shutdown prompted him to resume the finance degree he started 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 world comes “naturally” to Tanev, a trait hinted at when he explained his decision to sign with Toronto, despite Texas` lower state income tax compared to Canada`s higher rates. Tanev cited his long history of playing in Canada (Vancouver and Calgary, 2010-2014) and being from Toronto, plus his wife`s family living nearby. He also mentioned the Canadian “departure tax” incurred when permanently relocating to the U.S. to become a citizen.
Avoiding this tax, applicable to those severing ties with Canada, showcased Tanev`s financial savviness and his strategic thinking, mirroring his approach on the ice where he consistently tries to stay ahead of the opposition.
“He`s a stud back there,” stated forward Matthew Knies. “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.”
Watching Tanev play can seem almost uneventful because he is rarely out of position or making costly turnovers that have plagued Toronto in past playoff runs. His self-assured presence is a defining part of his character.
“[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.”
However, there`s nothing humorous about Tanev`s crucial role in Toronto`s quest to deny the Panthers another Stanley Cup Final appearance and potentially make one themselves. The series against Florida is now tied 2-2 after the Panthers won both home games. As Game 5 in Toronto becomes a best-of-three, the Leafs still hold home-ice advantage.
To succeed, the Leafs need Tanev at his best, but they also need him healthy. There was collective concern in Game 3 when Tanev briefly left after blocking a shot; it turned out to be just a broken skate, which he found “frustrating” given the critical stage of the season.
“He`s done this for a long time,” Berube commented on Tanev`s unwavering commitment to sacrificing his body. “So, I`m not going to talk to him about changing.”
The Leafs wouldn`t dare. Tanev is providing a powerful example of what it means to be truly “all-in.” If his teammates follow his lead, there`s no limit to how far Toronto might go in these playoffs.
“He`s as tough as they come,” said defensive partner Jake McCabe. “He`s so steady. He`s willing to do whatever it takes to win. We`re lucky to have him.”
