Flames sign Chris Tanev to four year deal ($4.5M AAV)

The Calgary Flames have added another free agent signing. And like with Jacob Markstrom, they looked to the west. The club has signed defenseman Chris Tanev to a four year deal worth $4.5 million per season.

Tanev, 30, is a right shot defender who is physical and has great hockey hair. He’s been with the Canucks since signing out of college in 2010. He’s amassed over 500 games for the Canucks. He’s not an offensive player. At all. His career goals high is six (2013-14) and points is 20 (2014-15).

But the thought process is probably that the Flames wanted somebody to eat the tough minutes – heavy D-zone starts and whatnot – so that Rasmus Andersson can get favourable deployments, since Andersson is far more offensively-skewed. So in that sense it kinda makes sense, but this is a deal that could age poorly given Tanev’s age, usage and playing style.

Tanev was beloved by fans in the Vancouver market for his playing style and guts and heart and intangibles – and so was Kris Russell in Calgary – but at some point Father Time and injuries will catch up with him. The Flames are gambling that it won’t happen for another four seasons.