Tanev played just 42 games last year due to a slew of injuries, though he managed to pitch in with two goals and 11 points. The 28-year-old has become the heart and soul of Vancouver's defense but the continuous wear and tear and the burden of heavy minutes has become a concern. Over the past two seasons he's played just 95 games, but it's enough proof to show his value; he's plus-10 in that span on a team that has been very poor defensively. He's a model of the modern NHL defenseman who can skate and make great decisions with the puck, but due to his injury history and general ambivalence towards scoring points, Tanev's fantasy value is limited with the potential for only 20-25 points at the higher end.
Injuries have prevented Tanev from playing more than 70 games in any of his seven NHL seasons thus far. It was another limited campaign for the rearguard in 2016-17, as he appeared in just 53 contests, managing two goals and 10 points. While the 27-year-old is very reliable defensively, his offense has taken a backseat with the emergence of Ben Hutton and Troy Stecher. Tanev logs heavy minutes on the team’s top defensive pairing, though he’s lost his spot on the power play and isn't likely to significantly improve on his 2016-17 totals, considering that the team hasn't made any major upgrades. Tanev will blocks lots of shots and see quality ice time, but he’s far more valuable to the Canucks than he is to fantasy owners.
Tanev was one of the best blueliners for Vancouver in 2015-16, posting four goals and 18 points. While some thought he might have another level offensively, it’s becoming more and more evident that Tanev may just be a very good defensive defenseman. He’s posted three consecutive seasons in the 15-20 point range, but overall, has taken steps forwards each year. The 26-year-old is a shot-blocking machine and averaged a career high 21:45 of ice time last season. While he may be more valuable to Vancouver than he is to fantasy owners, Tanev is expected to man the point on the second power-play unit with talented players such as Bo Horvat and Brandon Sutter, so with the addition of goal scorer Loui Eriksson up front, the smooth skating Tanev could still post a career-high offensive total on the Canucks’ top defensive pairing.
Tanev was one of the lone bright spots for the Canucks in 2013-2014, posting a career-high six goals and 17 points in 62 games. He was arguably the most consistent Canuck throughout the season, recording a plus-12 rating, while averaging a career-high 20:44 of ice time. And at only 24 years of age, his best is yet to come -- he is on the rise. While he hasn’t been used on the power play, Tanev has become a fixture on the Canucks’ penalty kill, averaging 3:00 of shorthanded ice time per game last season. Tanev also delivered for fantasy owners with two game-winning goals and a shorthanded tally, proving his clutch ability. While it’s hard to see Tanev turning into an elite offensive defenseman, he is well on his way to becoming a solid op-four blueliner in the NHL. And with the departure of Jason Garrison to Tampa Bay, Tanev’s role will only expand this upcoming season.
After bouncing back and forth between the NHL and AHL the previous two seasons, Tanev finally saw a full season of action with the Canucks in 2012-13. The 23-year-old blueliner finished with seven points (two goals, five assists) in 38 games while averaging over 17 minutes of ice time as the Canucks fifth defenseman. His offensive game hasn’t developed much the past couple seasons, but Tanev remains a very disciplined player on defense and he should be able to rack up higher point totals once he’s handed a bigger role. The Canucks and Tanev remined mired in contract discussions in early August, but as a restricted free agent, the odds are he returns to Vancouver for another go-round. The leg injury that hampered Tanev late in the season isn’t expected to be an issue once camp opens.
Tanev split the 2011-12 season between Chicago of the AHL and Vancouver. In his 25 appearances for the Canucks, Tanev finished with two points (0 G, 2 A) and a plus-10 rating while skating nearly 17 minutes per-game. Despite the lack of point production, Tanev grades out as a solid defensive option, as he always seems to make the right play. The 23-year old might never develop into one of the top defensive scorers in the league but Vancouver has a solid young blueliner for years to come with Tanev.
Tanev made his NHL debut during the 2010-11 season, having appeared in 29 regular season games and five games during the postseason. While Tanev managed just one assist over in his first 34 games at the NHL level, he played mistake-free hockey that left a lasting impression on the Canucks' brass. He might be a few years from fulfilling his potential, but this 21-year-old has a bright future in the NHL.
