Christopher Tanev
Undrafted defenceman who played for four NHL teams.
Christopher Tanev, a Canadian defenceman born on December 20, 1989, currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. Before joining Toronto, he suited up for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Dallas Stars. Despite going undrafted, he landed an NHL contract with the Canucks as a free agent following his first and only season of college hockey at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Tanev grew up in East York, Ontario, the son of Sophie Meredith and Mike "Misho" Tanev. He has two brothers: Brandon, a left winger for the Utah Mammoth, and Kyle. Of Macedonian descent, he played minor hockey for the Toronto Red Wings in the Greater Toronto Hockey League. At 16, after being cut from seven midget-level teams because of his small frame—he stood barely five feet tall and weighed around 120 pounds—he turned to his high school team and roller hockey in the summer. After graduating from East York Collegiate Institute, he enrolled at RIT as a finance major while playing college hockey.
His junior career spanned three seasons in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL). In 2006–07, he played for the Durham Fury, recording no goals and nine assists in 40 games. The next season, he split time between Durham, the Stouffville Spirit, and the Markham Waxers (later renamed the Markham Royals), totaling two goals and 15 assists across 49 games. During the 2008–09 campaign with Markham, he led all team defencemen in scoring with 41 points in 50 games, served as an alternate captain, and was named the team’s top defenceman.
In 2009–10, Tanev joined the RIT Tigers in NCAA Division I’s Atlantic Hockey Conference. Paired on the top defensive unit with captain Dan Ringwald, he posted 10 goals and 28 points in 41 games, leading his team with a plus-33 rating. Named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week three times, he earned Rookie of the Year honours, plus spots on the All-Rookie and Third All-Star Teams. During the 2010 playoffs, he helped the Tigers win the conference championship by defeating Sacred Heart in the final and was named to the All-Tournament Team. RIT advanced to the NCAA tournament but lost in the national semifinal to Wisconsin. Head coach Wayne Wilson called Tanev a “late bloomer,” noting he had grown six inches during his final junior year and praising his offensive skills.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1989-12-20
- Birth Place
- East York, Ontario, Canada
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 3
- Weight Lb
- 199
- Position
- Defence
- Shoots
- Right
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Former Teams
- Vancouver Canucks / Calgary Flames / Dallas Stars
- Ntl Team
- CAN
- Draft
- Undrafted
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Tanev played three seasons in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League before joining RIT. In his only college season, he recorded 10 goals and 28 points over 41 games, leading his team with a +33 plus-minus rating, and helped the Tigers win a conference championship. He was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year and received All-Tournament and Third All-Star Team honours. After signing with Vancouver as an undrafted free agent in May 2010, he made his NHL debut on January 18, 2011, becoming the first RIT alumnus to play in the NHL. He played in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals with the Canucks, appearing in the final three games of the series. Tanev scored his first NHL goal on February 4, 2013, in overtime against the Edmonton Oilers. On August 7, 2020, he scored 11 seconds into overtime to win a qualifying round game for the Canucks, tying for the second-fastest overtime goal in Stanley Cup playoff history.
Reader's Guide
Tanev's career is notable for his path as an undrafted player who became a reliable NHL defenceman. After being cut from seven midget-level teams at age 16 due to lack of size, he developed through junior hockey and a single college season before signing with Vancouver. He spent 10 seasons with the Canucks, then signed a four-year contract with the Calgary Flames in 2020. In February 2024, he was traded to the Dallas Stars in a three-team deal involving the New Jersey Devils. After a brief stint with Dallas, he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in July 2024 and signed a six-year contract. Tanev also played for Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championships, helping the team win gold. His defensive play and composure were noted by Team Canada's head coach during that tournament.
Did You Know?
- Tanev was unselected in the NHL entry draft and signed with Vancouver as a free agent after one college season.
- He was cut from seven midget-level teams at age 16 because he was barely five feet tall and weighed roughly 120 pounds.
- His first NHL goal was an overtime winner against the Edmonton Oilers on February 4, 2013.
- He scored 11 seconds into overtime on August 7, 2020, tying for the second-fastest overtime goal in Stanley Cup playoff history.
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