Chris Tanev Draws Comparisons to Respected Former Maple Leafs Defenseman

The Toronto Maple Leafs needed to improve their defense badly coming into this season and made huge strides to do so by signing Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jani Hakanpaa this past offseason. A new vision was set for the team and while there have been a couple of hiccups along the way, so far the new defense has been a massive improvement compared to the defense a year ago.

The main piece of that defensive shift is Chris Tanev who had many questions coming into this season regarding his age and if he can still contribute or if he's a step behind everyone else. So far, it seems those questions are answered pretty easily as Tanev has been a monster on the ice already having 25 blocked shots and needing a dozen more to already eclipse last year's total. Fearlessly, Tanev steps in front of shots without question and uses his wide frame to shut down the opponent's chances.

Tanev's tenacity to block shots has been apparent throughout his 15-year NHL career, as he's averaged 172 blocked shots per season including a 207-block extravaganza last year. Not one to throw the body around, Tanev instead uses his body to prevent pucks from getting through and uses his size to control players in the corners as opposed to laying out devastating checks.

Tanev's relentlessness for blocking shots often leads him to hobble off the ice for a bit to recover before he's back on the ice putting his body on the line once again. Nick Kypreos, NHL Analyst and co-host of 'Real Kyper and Bourne' answered a humorous question posed by his co-host Justin Bourne during their Leafs Hour episode 'Stolarz's Statement Stretch'.

Bourne asked:

A block-everything defenseman who can skate the puck out and make a first pass without any panic?

Sounds like Mark Giordano, and comparing Tanev to the NHL's all-time leading blocker may seem a bit egregious but both players are known for their elite defensive intelligence, tireless engine, and propensity to block any shot coming through. Through the first 15 years of their careers, both men are near equals in terms of average shots blocked, and given Giordano has three more years and 350 more games it's an incredible feat for Tanev.

Giordano was also a playmaking machine at points and while Tanev doesn't bring the same offensive weaponry he's still more than capable of contributing and does so in even the smallest of ways.

That type of defensive work is what Toronto needs. Often the Maple Leafs' defensemen would either overskate the puck or bring the puck into their zone to reset, but Tanev recognized the offensive potential with how quickly the puck left the zone, that him being able to corral the puck and send it for another offensive chance is a huge change. It's almost surreal to see a competent Maple Leafs defense even if they have their struggles from time to time as every team does.

It's been a long time since Toronto has felt like they had a solid contingent of defensemen, and though Mark Giordano last season was a breath of fresh air, Toronto neglected to re-sign him. Perhaps there was a reason, knowing they had a perfect replacement in Giordano who was a few years younger but just as wise.

It was a gamble to sign Tanev, and whether or not the Maple Leafs hit the jackpot remains to be seen but so far the odds are in their favor and they've got to be feeling lucky knowing they have an ace.