Quick into this offseason saw the joyous occasion of welcoming Chris Tanev home to Toronto after 14 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars. The Toronto native and Maple Leaf shot-blocker is on pace for an NHL career high in blocked shots this year. However, there is far more to discuss when we think about Tanev. So, we’ll analyze a couple of his most recent important plays from this season. He grabs the puck in the offensive zone, finds passing lanes, and makes smart passes. He picks apples, helps his team win defensive zone puck battles, and sends out pucks. The last two are especially important for a D-man to do. The Leafs had the top NHL goal-scorer last year in Auston Matthews, and excellent offence with the core four forwards (Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares) as a whole.
However, what are the defence and goaltending factors that can be both utilized and strengthened to make the Buds an all-around outstanding team? They are hot enough already this year, and let’s see what Tanev will continue to add to that.
Grabbing the Puck and Picking Apples Via Passing Lanes
Assist In Dec. 15 Win Against the Buffalo Sabres
Tanev is a valuable defenceman. But he also helps his team overcome the opponent’s defence. Sunday’s game against the struggling Buffalo Sabres saw his eighth apple (assist) this regular season. He utilized play-reading and passing lanes to notch the assist. In the second period, he received the puck in the offensive zone. Then, we saw his beautiful and intelligent pass through the lower faceoff circle to former Maple Leaf captain John Tavares. Tavares then scored the wrister for his 14th lamp-light of the year.
Takeaway: Tanev can grab the puck in the offensive zone and make smart passes to help the forwards with scoring.
Helping Win Defensive Zone Puck Battles and Sending Out Pucks
Assist In Dec. 10 Overtime Road Win Against the New Jersey Devils
Gotta love assisting on a shorty! But of course, getting the puck out of the defensive zone when there is a significant amount of traffic right in front of the net is a useful blueliner trait. After a big puck battle in front of Toronto’s net, then minded by Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz, we saw Tanev sending the puck away. Shortly after, 25-year-old centreman Connor Dewar picked it up. Dewar sent it down the ice to get it out of the reach of star Devils centreman Dawson Mercer and defenceman Dougie Hamilton. Dewar and Mercer raced for it, and they ended up colliding. The puck then came loose in the Devils’ zone. But then in came 25-year-old Leafs right-winger Pontus Holmberg, who scored the short-handed wrist shot to tie the game 1-1. This was Tanev’s seventh apple of the year.
Takeaway: Tanev can help get the puck out of the defensive zone at critical moments like this when the goalie may be overwhelmed by all the traffic right in front of the net.
Maple Leafs Shot-Blocker Can Help Maintain the Buds’ Good Goal Differential
Tanev is no stranger to enduring a blocked shot, regardless of how hard the shooter hit the puck and thus how painful it is. At the time of writing, he is number one in the NHL for blocked shots this year, with 90 in 31 games with the Leafs. Behind him is Utah Hockey Club defenceman and two-time Stanley Cup champion Ian Cole (who won both with the Pittsburgh Penguins). Cole sits in second with 86 in 30 games. In third is Tanev’s former Calgary Flames teammate. Flames blueliner Rasmus Andersson has a comparable 84 blocks in 31 games.
Right now, the Maple Leafs shot-blocker Tanev is on pace for 238 this season. If he does this, it would tie for ninth in league history since 2005-06 for most blocked shots in a season with former defenceman Brett Clark. It would either tie Clark’s record or come close. Clark notched 238 blocks in 76 games with the Colorado Avalanche in 2008-09.
At the time of writing, the Buds have the fifth-highest goal differential in the Eastern Conference (+11), behind the Carolina Hurricanes (+21), New Jersey Devils (+24), Tampa Bay Lightning (+30), and red hot Washington Capitals (+36). It’s logical to say that Tanev’s prevention of goals can help keep that high, and even improve it.
Takeaway: Tanev can help “complete the puzzle” of the three main factors of an NHL team’s performance: offence, goaltending, and in his case, defence.
These factors are small on their own but add up as a whole and can help the Buds maintain the versatile roster they need to be successful.
Main Photo: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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