Leafs acquire Chris Tanev's rights from Stars

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Chris Tanev's rights from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick and forward Max Ellis.

The trade allows the Leafs to negotiate with Tanev, a Toronto native, before free agency officially opens on July 1. They can sign him to a maximum of seven years because Tanev wasn't on Toronto's reserve list after the deadline, per TSN's Darren Dreger.

Tanev just played out the final season of a four-year pact with a $4.5-million cap hit, which he signed with the Calgary Flames in October 2020 under current Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving.

His agent, Wade Arnott, said there's no agreement for a new contract with Toronto yet, per The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. The veteran is projected to ink a two-year deal with an average annual value of $4.15 million, according to Evolving-Hockey.

A capable shutdown defender with a right-hand shot and a penchant for blocking pucks, Tanev split the 2023-24 season with the Flames and Stars. The 34-year-old chipped in with 19 points in 75 regular-season games while averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time per contest.

Dallas acquired Tanev in a three-way deal involving the New Jersey Devils before the trade deadline. During the Stars' run to the conference finals, he posted strong numbers, with Dallas controlling 54.5% of the expected goals and outscoring teams 13-10 with Tanev on the ice at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.

Tanev has amassed 33 goals, 190 points, and 1,652 blocks in 792 career NHL games, split between the Vancouver Canucks, Flames, and Stars.

Ellis, meanwhile, is a pending restricted free agent. He spent this past campaign with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, totaling four goals and 14 points in 36 games.