Calgary Flames Extend Or Sell: Chris Tanev
By Nathan Smith
The Calgary Flames have made some very interesting free agent moves in recent years, but one that has benefitted this team in a big way was when they landed former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Chris Tanev, who has since become the heart-and-soul of this talented defensive unit. In three years with Calgary, Tanev has appeared in 203 games, with 9 goals and 44 assists for 53 points over that time, but it’s the courageous defensive play that has made him beloved throughout the team, but at 33-years of age, do the Flames want to extend him beyond his current contract, which ends next off-season?
New General Manager Craig Conroy has noted on several occasions since taking over the role that this is an organization looking to get younger, and while some veterans are no doubt needed if the Flames are to bounce back into playoff contention, this is a team that’s already paying Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weegar and Nazem Kadri well into their late 30’s.
In the other pieces during our Extend or Sell series, the answer has been quite easy, with selling or extending the obvious move to make, but the answer isn’t so easy with Tanev, as he is a key cog to this defense when healthy, but with some promising pieces coming through the organization, they may have the depth to cover his loss.
Ultimately, the decision on No. 8 is one that should be pushed back, as the Flames should begin the season with him pairing Oliver Kylington on the second D-pairing (assuming Noah Hanifin is moved), as his veteran leadership is crucial. If the team are competing for a genuine playoff spot and not just an 8 seed like 2022-23, they could extend him for a year or two until names like Jeremie Porier, Yan Kuznetzov and Ilya Solovyov are all ready, but if the team are out of contention, he’ll no doubt get them a value piece or two in a deal.
Verdict: If the Flames are competing with Tanev at the 2023-24 trade deadline, they should look to an extension of one or perhaps two years, but if the playoffs aren’t in sight, this is a team that should sell high at the deadline on the veteran Tanev.