After another disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs playoff loss, it's time to break up the core four forwards and that might mean moving on from Mitch Marner, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Toronto Maple Leafs seem close to reaching an agreement with pending unrestricted free agent Chris Tanev, whom the club traded for at the tail end of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft Saturday. According to NHL insider Kevin Weekes [https://x.com/KevinWeekes/status/1807578566982344945], the new contract for the 34-year-old defenseman is projected to come in at around $5 million a season, with the term to be determined. On ‘X’ Sunday evening, Weekes stated, “Maple Leafs and Tanev sounds like a new contract comes in around $5M AAV from what I’m told for the hometown guy.” After the club traded for Tanev Saturday, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/lightnings-brisebois-makes-big-trades-ahead-of-free-agency-with-an-eye-on-guentzel/] that the Leafs were prepared to give the Toronto native a contract with a term of at least six years, estimating the average annual value (AAV) to be in the ballpark of $4 million a season. At this point, no numbers are set in stone. However, as Weekes reports, the club could be staring down a deal that carries an AAV of $5 million per season for his services. By stretching out the number of years in any new pact, the Leafs could keep the numerical value down but become expensive towards the end of the newly bedded contract. Tanev has been high on Treliving's radar as far back as November of 2023, when the club tried to trade for the 14-year veteran in a package that included Nikita Zadorov. Along with Zadorov and veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tanev has been viewed by the organization as one of the multiple defensive pieces that could benefit the club’s blueline this offseason. The former Dallas Star is coming off the conclusion of a four-year, $18 million contract he signed with general manager Brad Treliving and the Calgary Flames in October 2020. In the 2023-24 regular season, he had two goals and 17 assists split between his time with the Flames and Stars adding two assists in 19 postseason appearances in Dallas. By acquiring his rights, the Leafs will continue to negotiate with the 34-year-old before he hits the open market on July 1, in hopes of closing the gap of necessities before free agency kicks off. AFP Analytics [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JPtGk5m_S9VuR5e7T8lb_BlilXRwJPF0V2ddQzjjpvc/edit?gid=1769332179#gid=1769332179] is projecting a three-year, $13.44 million contract with an average annual value of $4.48 million a season for Tanev’s next deal. According to PuckPedia.com [https://puckpedia.com/team/toronto-maple-leafs], the Leafs have $12,955,333 left to spend under the $88 million salary cap with 17 players committed ahead of free agency Monday. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Report: Nick Robertson Informs Maple Leafs He Will Not Re-Sign and Wishes to be Traded [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-nick-robertson-informs-maple-leafs-he-will-not-re-sign-and-wishes-to-be-traded] Maple Leafs Extend Qualifying Offers to Nick Robertson, Alex Steeves, Connor Dewar; Noah Gregor Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-extend-qualifying-offers-to-nick-robertson-alex-steeves-connor-dewar-noah-gregor-becomes-unrestricted-free-agent] Report: Maple Leafs and Timothy Liljegren Agree to Two-Year, $6 Million Extension [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-maple-leafs-and-timothy-liljegren-agree-to-two-year-6-million-extension] News from THN.com 2024 NHL Draft: Building Team Ferrari with the Detroit Red Wings' Picks [https://thehockeynews.com/news/2024-nhl-draft-building-team-ferrari-with-the-detroit-red-wings-picks] 2024 NHL Draft: Best Available After the First Round [https://thehockeynews.com/news/2024-nhl-draft-best-available-after-the-first-round] Oilers on the Verge of Becoming the Most Unlikely, Memorable Cup Champs in NHL History [https://thehockeynews.com/news/oilers-on-the-verge-of-becoming-the-most-unlikely-memorable-cup-champs-in-nhl-history]
