Chris Tanev agreed to a six-year, $27 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.
Acquired from the Dallas Stars in a trade on Saturday, the defender will earn an average of $4.5 million per season.
The 34-year-old rearguard had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 75 regular-season games with the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames last season, including five points (one goal, four assists) in 19 games after being acquired by the Stars in a trade with Calgary on Feb. 28.
Tanev has two assists in 19 games in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“He’s going to be a real pro for our group and in our locker room,” general manager Brad Treliving said. “He can play tough minutes against the best players, kill penalties and more.”
Signed by the Vancouver Canucks as an undrafted free agent on May 31, 2010, Tanev has 190 points (33 goals, 157 assists) in 792 regular-season games with the Stars, Flames and Canucks. He added 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in 60 playoff games.
The Maple Leafs continued to add depth to their blue line by signing veterans Oliver-Ekman-Larsson and Jani Hakanpää.
Ekman-Larsson agreed to a four-year, $14 million deal ($3.5 million annual average). The 32-year-old rearguard had 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 80 regular-season games with the Florida Panthers this season before scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in 24 playoff games as Florida won its first Stanley Cup.
Selected by the Phoenix Coyotes with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Swede scored 471 points (144 goals, 327 assists) in 982 regular-season games with the Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Coyotes. He added 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 49 playoff games.
“When I look at our defence right now, I think it’s a nice mix,” Treliving said. “We have puck-moving defensemen, big guys and penalty-killing defensemen. Adding Oliver gives us another option on the power play. We have left-handed and right-handed defensemen. Defensemen are hard to come by, so it gives us options as we head into the summer.”
Hakanpää signed a two-year contract worth $3 million (annual average $1.5 million). The 32-year-old defenseman had 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 64 regular-season games with the Dallas Stars last season. He missed all of the Stars’ Stanley Cup playoff games with a lower-body injury.
Selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Hakanpää has 45 points (15 goals, 30 assists) in 288 regular-season games for the Stars, Carolina Hurricanes and Anaheim Ducks, with four points (one goal, three assists) in 33 playoff games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs also signed Joseph Woll to a three-year contract extension worth $3.66 million annually. The deal will kick in for the 2025-26 season.
The 25-year-old goalie could have become a restricted free agent at the end of next season.
Woll went 12-11-1 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 25 games last season. He then won two of three games in the playoffs, posting impressive numbers with a 0.86 GAA and .964 save percentage.
“We looked at the comparables to come to an agreement with Joe and we have a lot of confidence in him,” Treliving said. “We think Joe will have a very good career. He has a big season ahead of him. It was a priority for us to see if we could extend his contract, and Joe was excited to sign with us.”
Selected in the third round (62nd overall) by the Maple Leafs in the 2016 draft, Woll is 21-13-1 (2.76 – .912) in 36 regular-season games and 3-2 (1.78 – .933) in seven playoff games.
