As the 2024 NHL Entry Draft concluded with the 225th pick, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a significant move by acquiring the rights to Dallas Stars defenseman Chris Tanev. The Stars traded Tanev’s rights to the Leafs in exchange for forward Max Ellis and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. Tanev is not under contract beyond this season and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 if no new deal is reached.
Tanev, a native of Toronto, Ontario, was a highly sought-after player following the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving commented, “We’ve been looking to improve our defense since the end of the year. As it seemed he might not sign with Dallas, we wanted to get ahead of free agency. I know the player well, and we’re excited to negotiate directly with him.”
Tanev, 34, joined the Dallas Stars at the 2024 trade deadline from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Artem Grushnikov, a 2024 second-round pick, and a conditional 2026 third-round pick. He quickly became a key player for the Stars, contributing to their status as Stanley Cup contenders. In 19 regular-season games with Dallas, Tanev tallied five points (one goal, four assists) and a plus-6 rating, excelling on the penalty kill and ranking third in the NHL with 207 blocked shots.
In the playoffs, Tanev played in all 19 Stars games, helping the team reach the Western Conference Final. He recorded two assists, 73 blocked shots, and 30 hits while averaging over 22 minutes of ice time per game, demonstrating his toughness by playing through a foot/ankle injury.
Throughout his career, Tanev has played 792 regular-season games with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Dallas Stars. After going undrafted out of the Rochester Institute of Technology, he signed with Vancouver and spent his first 10 seasons there. He joined Calgary in 2020, playing over three seasons before being traded to Dallas.
Max Ellis, 24, has yet to make his NHL debut, having played the past two seasons with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. He has accumulated 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 87 AHL games and played two seasons of college hockey at the University of Notre Dame.