Cory Cross equates $27M Chris Tanev to "blood and guts" ex-Russian Maple Leaf D-man

By Anjum Rajonno

Modified Aug 08, 2024 14:53 GMT

Former NHL player Cory Cross was one of the best players in his position. While speaking about Chris Tanev — a player for his former team the Toronto Maple Leafs — the hockey great had high praise for the defenseman.

Cross appeared on the "Leafs Nation" podcast on Wednesday, where he was asked if he follows the current Maple Leafs squad. In response, Cross admitted that he doesn't follow the regular season closely due to the time difference but watches more during the playoffs when the stakes are higher.

“I like their team and what they've done this year. I love Tanev. If he can stay healthy, he's an absolute beast. Fans are going to love him,” Cory Cross said.

“He's like a Demetri Yushkevich in my day — just blood and guts and blocks everything. He's really going to help that team.”

He compared Tanev to his former teammate Dmitri Yushkevich. He said Tanev's gritty playing style reminded Cross of the old-school, tough D-man.

Cross also discussed the Leafs' defense as a unit, which he viewed as a weak point in recent years. He emphasized that playoff hockey is a different game, where superstars need to get to the tough areas of the ice. The former NHL star suggested that some of the Leafs' players need to play with more grit and determination to succeed in the postseason.

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Chris Tanev credits major “tax” benefit as reason behind signing with the Leafs

Former Dallas Stars defenseman Tanev signed a six-year, $27-million contract with the Maple Leafs this offseason. Tanev admitted that he chose to sign with the Canadian team partly due to a unique tax consideration.

“You do have the lower state tax there, but I’ve played in Canada for 14 years. I’m from here, and my wife’s family is from close to here. There’s also a tax when you leave Canada to become a U.S. citizen — there’s a departure tax to leave Canada,” Tanev said during a media availability.

In Canada, if a resident leaves the country permanently, they might face a hefty tax on their assets, called the "Deemed Disposition" tax. This tax can be a big financial hit, especially for someone like Tanev, who has earned a lot during his career as a professional athlete.

“That plays a role in it, and family reasons and obviously coming to a good team is a big part of that. I didn’t want to leave Dallas and go to a team that wasn’t trying to win. That’s a huge reason why this happened.”

By staying in Canada and signing with the Maple Leafs, Tanev avoided this tax, making it easier for him financially and keeping him close to home.