Report on Chris Tanev Not Great News for the Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs were specifically hellbent on acquiring Chris Tanev for a multitude of reasons, and so far, in just his first season with the Blue and White, the veteran defenseman has been everything they hoped for and then some.

In 75 games this season, Tanev recorded 3 goals and 18 points, was a plus-31, added 189 blocked shots and 20 hits, and saw 19:45 ATOI. He quickly stabilized the defense, allowed Morgan Rielly to play more sheltered minutes, and helped the penalty kill immensely.

While Tanev may be 35 years old and will soon be on the decline, the Toronto native is playing some of the best hockey in his 15-year career and has managed to top his regular season play with even better performances in the post-season.

In just 9 contests, Tanev has 3 points, holds a plus-6 rating, and has 25 blocked shots in 20:07 ATOI. The unfortunate side of all of those blocked shots and heavy minutes against the best the opposition has to offer is that he takes a lot of punishment.

According to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, the rugged defenseman leads the NHL circuit throughout the playoffs with the most hits taken and it's not even close. Tanev has absorbed 71 hits and the next highest is former Maple Leafs defenseman Rasmus Sandin with just 43.

Both the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers play heavier games than the Washington Capitals' opponents in Montreal and Carolina. However, 71 hits taken in just 9 games is a mind-boggling statistic and adds to his lore about being a stable, durable, dependable, and reliable workhorse.

The Panthers have been very physical and haven't let up on finishing any checks during this series. They get in hard on the forecheck and the defensemen playing the puck off the dump have to be ready for contact every single time.

Tanev looked to have had some issues last game after he went down the tunnel for a brief period, but it was reportedly just an equipment malfunction, which should alleviate the stress that most of Leafs Nation may have been feeling as Tanev and the rest of the team get ready for a crucial Game 4.