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"Firmly believe it": Ex-Maple Leafs star makes huge Chris Tanev claim
Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo believes Chris Tanev will sign with the Maple Leafs in free agency. Tanev is coming off a four-year, $18 million deal that he signed in 2020.
Tanev is one of the top defensemen available in free agency and it has been reported the Maple Leafs are among the several teams interested in him. Although there will be a bidding war for him, Colaiacovo is confident that Toronto will land the stud defensemen in free agency.
"I firmly believe that Chris Tanev will be a Toronto Maple Leaf on July 1. I know that last year, with all the attempts the Maple Leafs made to try to acquire him, he's a Toronto guy," Colaiacovo said.
"All the talk was that he wanted to be in Toronto. Clearly, it couldn't happen because Calgary wasn't willing to trade with the Leafs, even though the Leafs were willing to give a first-round pick for him. But I truly believe Chris Tanev will be the Maple Leafs' No. 1 target come free agency frenzy on defense."
Colaiacovo added:
"What does that deal look like? If you go five years, it's probably going to be somewhere between $4 and $5 million a year. If it's less, it's going to be higher, somewhere between $5 and $6 million. But he's your top pairing, right-hand shot defenseman that you've been looking for.
"The guy that's going to play the way Craig Berube wants you to play, the way Brad Treliving wants the team to play. I'm not crazy about giving him a five-year deal, but it's unrestricted free agency. That's what happens; you have to overpay."
If the Maple Leafs land Tanev in free agency, it would be a massive deal as he is a solid defensive defenseman who can be on Toronto's top pair.
After being acquired by the Stars at the deadline, Tanev recorded one goal and four assists for five points in 19 games. In the playoffs, he added two assists in 19 games but did have success blocking shots and shutting down the opposing team's offenses.
What type of contract is Chris Tanev projected to get?
According to DailyFaceoff.com, who used AFP Analytics, Tanev is projected to sign a three-year deal worth $4.7 million per season.
However, there have been reports that the Maple Leafs may decide to give him a longer deal to bring the AAV down, if Toronto does sign him.
Chris Tanev is 34 and will turn 35 in December. The defenseman has been in the NHL since 2010 and has skated in 792 regular-season games.
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