Fan excitement increasing following latest announcement regarding Chris Tanev

The Leafs haven't had much luck this far in their attempts to scour the trade market for a suitable upgrade on defense, specifically on the right side of the ice. According to recent reports, their top target remains Calgary Flames defenseman Chris Tanev, but Tanev was injured recently, which has put a real damper on the situation. However, there appears to be a positive update on that front.

One of the more coveted players heading into this season's trade deadline, Tanev looks to be returning to the Flames' lineup this week after missing the past 3 games with an upper-body injury.

The veteran defenseman had become a popular trade target at the beginning of the season after the Flames opened up for business following a very tumultuous start. The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to the shot-blocking defensive-minded rear-guard as he brings the missing intangibles that Brad Treliving so desperately wants.

On the season, Tanev has 1 goal and 7 points through 28 games, has averaged 18:39 TOI, holds a plus-1 rating, and has blocked 65 shots to his 11 hits. The Toronto native has 676 blocks, 197 hits, and averaged 20:22 TOI between 2018-19 and 2022-23, a stretch of 327 games.


Between 2019-20 and 2021-22, Tanev never missed a game, although health was a concern in his previous seasons as he never played in more than 70 games in a season.

The Flames are currently 12-14-5 through 31 games this season and sit 3 points out of the final wild card spot. They already moved Nikita Zadorov to the Vancouver Canucks, and rumours have been rampant on Noah Hanifin as well, so look for the Flames to be one of the busier clubs leading into the deadline.

Brad Treliving, of course, has ties to his former club, so his interest in the veteran defenseman is not out of pocket. The Maple Leafs desperately need a more defensive-minded player on a back-end that has dealt with a myriad of injuries all season long.

Nevertheless, it is fantastic news that he has been cleared to return after just missing 3 games and that the injury was not severe.