It was quite the homecoming for Chris Tanev, as the Toronto native delivered an excellent season in the Blue and White.

Tanev was widely considered one of the top blue liners available on the free agency market last summer before the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for his rights from the Dallas Stars, then signed him to six-year, $27 million contract.

And while some wondered about the length and cost of the contract for a player in his mid-30s, Tanev has already proven his worth to his hometown club, and then some. Playing in his 15th NHL season, the 35-year-old consistently rose to the occasion in a way that other homegrown talent have failed to do so in this market, and quickly became a fan favourite who thrived under Craig Berube’s tough style of hockey.

Tanev was undoubtedly one of Toronto’s most important defencemen this season.

Never known as an attacking defenceman, Tanev finished the season with three goals and 18 points, a total that remains consistent with his career output. Tanev played just under 20 minutes per game, picking up key defensive minutes for Toronto. In building a tougher look around Toronto’s highly-skilled forwards, he also took a large percentage of the hits for the Leafs, showing off his strength and ability to facilitate exits through contact.

Having dealt with injury troubles in the past, there was concern when Tanev exited a February 25th game against the Boston Bruins early, later seen leaving the arena with his arm in a sling. After missing six games, he was reactivated from injured reserve, then playing the remainder of the season, dissuading any concern that he would miss a larger number of games as he had in the past. Despite his age, Tanev has played 75 games  or greater for two consecutive seasons and remains a durable presence despite playing a style of game that attracts danger.

Tanev’s reputation as a premier shot blocker continued this season as he essentially became Toronto’s second goalie on the ice. He led the Leafs with 189 shots blocked this season, ranking sixth in the NHL, setting a franchise record in the process. That trend continued into the playoffs, where he was part of a strong defensive core blocking shots for the Leafs. Between Simon Benoit’s 39 blocks Tanev’s 38, along with Brandon Carlo and Jake McCabe each posting 32 blocks, Toronto occupied four of the top eight individual spots, prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Final.

A lot will be made of Toronto’s back-to-back 6-1 losses at home to close out their 2025 Stanley Cup playoff run, but it’s hard to place much of that blame in Tanev’s hands, as the veteran defenceman continued to work hard for the Leafs even through their toughest outings, while still taking accountability for the losses. With five more years remaining on his contract, he is one dependable piece you can count on sticking around through summer’s re-tool, as he perfectly fits the playoff tough, hard-working type of mentality the Leafs are continuing to try to build.

Tanev’s impact as the Maple Leafs’ premier defender isn’t always reflected in the advanced stats, but his superior goal differential speaks to the elite value he provided, primarily paired alongside Jake McCabe. He’s not an offensive defenceman by any means, so his goal production isn’t nearly as valuable as his defensive impact, elite shot-blocking and suppression skills, and it’s particularly telling that he ranks within the top 20 percent of virtually every defensive metric available. There are many things the Leafs need to reevaluate but Tanev’s steady presence on the blue line is a plus-asset for the franchise moving forward.