Former Oilers rival defenseman sparks controversy with new contract

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Ryan Hall
July 31, 2024 (9:31 PM)

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Former Flames defenseman Chris Tanev signed a new contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer which has sparked considerable controversy.

The 34-year-old defender signed an eyebrow raising six-year deal worth $27 million giving the Leafs a cap hit of 4.5 million. The premise of this signing is to stretch out the term to lower the overall cap hit so the Leafs could compete for other defensemen to sign.

What sparks this is controversial is that many people across the NHL especially in fanbases feel that the Maple Leafs will try to use his contract in a long-term injury reserve position as the contract ages which will allow the Maple Leafs not to count his $4.5 million towards the cap.

Even though Leafs general manager Brad Treliving has expressed that he will fulfill the entire contract it's hard to imagine that he could do so already at 34 years old and has struggled with some injuries over the past couple of years.

Tanev has spent most of his career in Canada as he played for the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames both Oilers rivals. His last stop was with the Dallas Stars where he played nineteen games and had one goal and forced this with five points was a + 6 but 19 minutes in ice time.

Gary Bettman has expressed that the NHL will be monitoring teams who attempt to circumvent the cap but these LTIR tricks but until there is an official rule put into the collective bargaining agreement which is expected to be negotiated in the next two years, teams like the Maple Leafs will use this to their advantage as long as possible.

Only time will tell if the Leafs live up to what they've said.

Source: House of Hockey

Chris Tanev's contract with the Maple Leafs sparks controversy around the NHL