Fantasy Take: Chris Tanev Becomes a Star
Alexander MacLean
2024-02-28
The Calgary Flames shipped out Chris Tanev to the Dallas Stars, possibly opening the floodgates on the rental defenceman market around the NHL. For a sought-after right-shot defenceman, it is surprising that they weren't able to get a first round pick in return. Here is the deal, with the Flames retaining 50% of Tanev's cap hit.
What the Stars Get:
Sometimes a picture says more than 1000 words ever could, and I think that's the case here when trying to describe Tanev's playing style:
Tanev has been playing 20 minutes a night for the Flames, and will likely find himself with a similar workload and a similar rate of starting the majority of his shifts in the defensive zone. That will not only take some of the pressure off of the defence, but help the forwards, and especially the goalies as well.
Ryan Suter will likely be the one pushed down to the third-pairing from this, but he didn't have much fantasy relevance left anyways.
What the Flames Get:
The Flames get more futures pieces, and a big hole in the lineup that will have to be filled by committee. One of Jordan Oesterle or Dennis Gilbert will step into the lineup, while Brayden Pachal and Oliver Kylington will likely see some bigger minutes.
Noah Hanifin will likely take an even more pronounced load of the defensive zone starts in the short term (as he too is likely on his way out the door). Overall, the extra minutes should help Kylington to a degree, but there isn't much more of an addition by subtraction effect to be found here for the Calgary lineup.
Jacob Markstrom is also likely going to feel the loss of Tanev – though he too could be dealt as well.
Players this helps (ordered most to least):
Brayden Pachal
The rest of the Stars
Players this hurts:
The rest of the Flames