Report: Stars’ Offer Was Insufficient Compared to Maple Leafs’ Proposal in Chris Tanev Sweepstakes
The Leafs acquired the rights to Tanev in a trade with the Dallas Stars nearing the end of the NHL Draft Saturday before signing him to a six-year, $27 million contract.
After being rumored to have a prime interest in defenseman Chris Tanev, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a splash during the final day of the NHL Draft, securing his rights in a trade with the Dallas Stars – giving the club a small window and negotiation period to get a deal done before the start of free agency.
As reported by the Toronto Star’s Nick Kypreos, despite their interest in retaining Tanev, the Stars could not match the financial package offered by the Maple Leafs. Kypreos highlighted the disparity, stating, "The Stars weren't in the same ballpark as the Leafs to entice Tanev to re-sign there. Their best offer was $15 million over three years."
AFP Analytics was projecting a three-year, $13.44 million contract with an average annual value of $4.48 million a season for Tanev’s next deal, aligning closely with the Stars’ proposal. However, Maple Leafs’ general manager Brad Treliving was determined to finally land Tanev, whom he had been chasing all season long dating back to the 2023-24 trade deadline.
After being outbid near the deadline by the Stars, when Treliving attempted to trade for the 14-year veteran in a package that included Nikita Zadorov in November of 2023, the same carousel wasn’t about to happen twice.
As we have come to know, Tanev’s new six-year, $27 million contract surpassed the Stars’ offer significantly, now set to earn an average annual value (AAV) of $4.5 million per season over six years. The contract carries a full no-movement throughout, meaning the player cannot be waived, assigned to minors, or traded without approval. In addition to this contract note, the Tanev deal is approximately 80 percent in bonuses.
This move not only showcased the Maple Leafs' determination to bolster their defensive core but also underscored their willingness to invest in securing top talent on the backend – an area Treliving has long desired to restructure.
Following the opening day of NHL free agency, Treliving addressed handing out lucrative deals to aging, but experienced defenders, such as Tanev and in this particular case Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Leafs as well.
Treliving stated he was comfortable doing so because it was the necessary term to draw the player away from other options, emphasizing this by saying, “Well, ultimately to get the player, you know, and I know we would all like them at one-year and 400 grand, that's just not reality,” said Treliving. “So you go in, you have to be disciplined in the marketplace, supply and demand.”
The 34-year-old was likely seeking to obtain maximum value for his services while still giving himself an opportunity. With the Leafs, he’s poised to be slotted next to Morgan Rielly on the right side of the club’s top-pairing, adding much-needed stability in that area. The Toronto native had two goals and 17 assists split between his time with the Flames and Stars adding two assists in 19 postseason appearances in Dallas throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
Despite his age, Tanev is a strong addition to the Leafs’ blueline, bringing an experienced tenacity with elite shot-blocking abilities and shutdown play in the defensive zone. For Treliving and Co., they’re content with the moves they’ve made, outbidding the competition while upgrading their defensive prowess.
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