Maple Leafs sign defenceman Chris Tanev to six-year deal

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One of the toughest defencemen in the NHL is officially staying in Toronto.

Chris Tanev and the Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to a six-year contract worth $27 million. The deal will carry an AAV of $4.5 million and have a full-no movement clause throughout, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

Toronto acquired the rights to Chris Tanev from the Dallas Stars on Saturday, allowing the Leafs to negotiate with the right-shot defenceman ahead of free agency. In return, the Stars received a 2026 seventh-round pick and the contract rights for forward Max Ellis, who was not offered a qualifying offer by the team and will hit free agency on Monday.

Tanev, 34, joined the Stars on Feb. 29 after being traded from the Calgary Flames. He helped the Stars reach the Western Conference Final before they were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers.

In 19 regular-season games with the Stars, he had one goal and four assists. He added two assists in 19 games during the Stars’ playoff run.

Tanev has played 14 seasons in the NHL with the Flames, Stars and Vancouver Canucks. He is coming off a four-year, $18 million contract he signed with the Flames prior to the 2020-21 season.