Oh, you thought that I was gonna just give up on my trade target series just because the Canucks traded for Elias Lindholm?

Think again, fella.

The Canucks aren’t done. We know this. They are going to at least try to add even more to this roster. Patrik Allvin and Jim Rutherford have the rest of their chips on the table and are ready to push them in if the right piece becomes available.

The Canucks are going for it. Buckle up.

The Lindholm acquisition was so seismic that I initially struggled to imagine what else the team could add. Now that we’re hearing more rumours about Nikita Zadorov potentially being on the move to clear cap space, many are beginning to wonder about Chris Tanev. 

Tanev has been one of the league’s premier shutdown defenceman for a few years, really ever since he signed a four-year deal with the Calgary Flames in the 2020 off-season.

It’s a moment in Canucks history that continues to haunt me today,

With that said, the Canucks have the opportunity to re-write history. The players want Tanev; management wants Tanev; the fans want Tanev; the entire city of Vancouver needs a Chris Tanev reunion more than it needs oxygen.

But that’s it: Everyone wants Tanev. No, seriously, there are apparently over 10 teams that are calling about the Toronto, Ontario-born defenceman.

Can you blame them? Absolutely not. A player of Tanev’s quality is desirable, especially after considering his profile. Right-handed, defence-first defenceman with a track record of thriving against other teams’ top competition?

Go figure.

Chris Tanev would be a terrific add for any team, but he needs to be a Canuck; it just needs to happen. Nothing would be sweeter than to see a former fan-favourite win a cup with the team that signed him out of college.

Yeah, I said “win a cup”. The Canucks have a shot this year, and I think Tanev would be a worthwhile get.

Let’s get into why that is.

Trading Zadorov to get Tanev would be a big upgrade

Let’s just get this out of the way right now: No, I’m not an insider.

I seriously don’t think that the Zadorov rumours are just smoke and mirrors. While Jim Rutherford said they “are not shopping Zadorov”, it’s also been confirmed that the Canucks are trying to get Tanev.

Connect the dots. Zadorov would be the most-likely guy on the way out if they truly want Tanev.

But, again, I’m not an insider.

If these rumours hold any weight, I am of the opinion that essentially swapping Zadorov for Tanev (albeit in separate deals) would be a meaningful upgrade to the Canucks’ blueline. That’s not to discredit the 6’6″, all-situations freak that Zadorov is, rather it’s me highlighting how good Tanev is in comparison.

But these two aren’t comparable; they’re very different players.

The reason as to why I think this upgrade is worth it is simply because of Tanev’s tenure in Calgary. While a respected player in Vancouver, he never got much love from National media or the analytics community. Once he arrived in Calgary, Tanev slightly re-invented his game, relying more on being a disruptor rather than a shot-blocker (although he still eats pucks for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner), and the analytics have popped.

Should the Canucks bring back Chris Tanev, as Quinn Hughes reportedly wants them to? #Canucks pic.twitter.com/fBpoFsm87k

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 24, 2024

Nothing makes me happier to see a former fan-favourite getting the respect he deserves. It’s just a shame that it had to happen in Calgary.

Nikita Zadorov provides value with his physical presence, solid transitional play, and defensive reliability; but is prone to the occasional gaffe. Tanev isn’t prone to these “gaffe’s” I speak of. He’s one of the most reliable defenceman in the league; you almost never see this man make a mistake.

That in itself is worth trading for. It’s a rare, rare quality to be that dependable. He just doesn’t mess up.

I wouldn’t object if the Canucks just opted to keep Nikita Zadorov, but if they were to seek-out Tanev, I would be more than okay with trading him to get it done.

Tanev is a defensive driver

Chris Tanev is an analytical darling.

Just don’t expect him to generate any offence.

Moneypuck.com shows that Tanev has only generated a meek 0.82 xGF (expected goals for) at 5v5 this season. Luckily, you won’t be getting Chris Tanev to generate chances; you’re getting him because he’s great at preventing them.

That number isn’t good, yet Tanev’s xGF% is still 51.2%, meaning even though he isn’t generating anything, he still *slightly* controls play in his team’s favour more times than not.

That in itself is enough to show just how effective Tanev is defensively. If paired alongside of a decent-enough two-way defenceman (i.e. Carson Soucy), Tanev would thrive.

Come to think of it, having a top four of Quinn Hughes, Filip Hronek, Carson Soucy, and Chris Tanev would be; maybe the best top-four in Canucks history.

Maybe that’s a stretch, but it’d definitely be their best since 2011.

The players want him here

When your nickname is “Dad”, you’re probably a favourite in the locker room.

The 2019-20 season was the closest many of the current Canucks’ core has come to any type of playoff success, losing in the 2nd round fto the Vegas Golden Knights.

This is important because Hughes, Pettersson, Boeser, and Demko were all just starting their NHL career’s (Hughes and Demko were rookies), and Chris Tanev was a major influence on not just the core guys, but the rest of the team as well.

If you scroll back up to the JFreshHockey post, do you see how he mentions Quinn Hughes? I believe Rick Dhaliwal initially reported that Hughes has talked to Canucks management about Tanev, directly.

Look, I love to use data and analytics, but sometimes team chemistry can be a factor into who you trade for. Canucks management have signed and traded for players that they are familiar with: So why not get a guy who the most important players on your team called “Dad” in his tenure here?

Oh, he also just-so-happens to be a fantastic hockey player, too? Even better.

The love for Tanev in that locker room is something that has been broadcasted over the last week or so, and I honestly believe that adding him would make the rest of the team run through every wall in Vancouver.

A successful front office tries to balance data with intangibles. You can’t just get a player who’s selling point is something like leadership; or grit, and that’s why we’ve seen more and more old school-type GM’s not getting another crack. A good GM has to move with the times.

Jim Rutherford is still in the NHL at 74. He’s been able to stay open-minded and forward thinking in his approach, always moving with the times.

We are just over one year removed from everyone (including myself) questioning how he (and the rest of the front office) questioned how the Bruce Boudreau fiasco was handled, along with many other interior cracks.

Now we talk about this team as legitimate foes for the first time in at least over a decade, and how reuniting with Chris Tanev is in the realm of possibility.

Life doesn’t feel real anymore.

Tanev would be an unreal get; it’s one that I would struggle to disagree with. The Canucks shouldn’t trade for him if heaven and earth is the asking price…

But if the price is right, they should absolutely pull the trigger.