The Winnipeg Jets received the Presidents’ Trophy within the 2024-25 season as the highest workforce within the NHL. Nonetheless, they’d be eradicated within the second spherical by the Dallas Stars. Now, the Jets flip their focus in direction of the offseason. One main query is the way forward for their mid-season acquisition, Brandon Tanev. If the Jets can not re-sign Tanev, we are going to take a look at the three greatest locations for him as a free agent this offseason.
Tanev just isn’t a top-line ahead, however a top quality third-line ahead who will assist the protection unit of virtually any workforce. Tanev’s profession excessive in objectives and assists each sport within the 2022-23 season, when he tallied 16 objectives and 19 assists. Nonetheless, he constantly leads his workforce in each hits and in plus/minus ranking. This yr was the primary time he completed with a adverse plus/minus ranking for a season because the 2019-2020 season, primarily as a result of poor protection of the Seattle Kraken earlier than he was traded to the Jets.
The Jets may look to re-sign Tanev, however he may value greater than the $3.5 million he made this yr. Nonetheless, in keeping with Cap Wages, the Jets are anticipated to have nearly $25.7 million in cap area. If Brandon Tanev doesn’t return to the Jets, we are going to take a look at the highest three choices for his providers subsequent season.
Tanev joins his brother
Brandon Tanev grew up in Toronto, Canada, and will return residence this offseason. First, the Maple Leafs are anticipated to have $26 million in cap area this offseason. The Maple Leafs will use a few of that cash to probably re-sign Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies, however ought to have sufficient left over to usher in Tanev. Additional, Tanev’s brother, Chris Tanev, presently performs for Toronto. The 35-year-old defenseman simply completed the primary yr of a six-year contract with the Maple Leafs. This might give Brandon a number of years of taking part in along with his brother.
Additional, the Maple Leafs want depth on their checking strains. Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz are each unrestricted free brokers. Pacioretty performed in simply 37 video games final season and had a minus-two plus/minus ranking. He has not performed over 50 video games in a yr because the 2019-20 season. Tanev would offer stability to the checking strains that has not been there with Pacioretty. Lastly, Toronto was seventeenth within the NHL on the penalty kill this previous season. This might be improved immediately by bringing in Tanev.
Tanev provides checking line depth in Vegas
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One other workforce in want of assistance on the checking strains could be the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights will probably be wanting so as to add ahead depth this offseason. Vegas may very well be shedding each Reilly Smith and Brandon Saad this offseason. Smith was on the second penalty kill unit, which struggled this yr. Nonetheless, Smith was stable total after coming over from the Rangers. He had a plus-11 plus/minus ranking and contributed three objectives and eight assists. Nonetheless, the Golden Knights are projected to have simply $9.6 million in cap area, and Smith is projected to be dearer than Tanev.
Additional, like Toronto, the Golden Knights may use assistance on the penalty kill. They ranked twenty sixth final yr on the penalty kill. Contemplating that Vegas was third within the NHL in objectives towards per sport, this was a serious weak spot. This yr, 27.6 p.c of the objectives scored towards Vegas occurred in non-5v5 conditions. Tanev would immediately improve this unit.
The Senators search for penalty-killing assist
The Senators struggled on protection of their playoff loss to the Maple Leafs. They allowed 19 objectives over six video games, with six of them coming when down a participant. A standard theme for groups Brandon Tanev is the necessity for assistance on the penalty kill. The Ottawa Senators have been nineteenth within the NHL this yr on the penalty kill. Nonetheless, over 30 p.c of their objectives allowed got here in odd-man conditions. Brandon Tanev would deliver a fast repair to that drawback. He would slide properly onto the second power-play unit, changing Nick Cousins.
Additional, your entire fourth line for the Senators just isn’t presently below contract. Each Nick Cousins and Adam Gaudette are unrestricted free brokers, whereas Fabian Zetterlund is a restricted one. Tanev could be a stable alternative for Cousins. First, Cousins didn’t play a full season, taking part in in simply 50 video games this yr. He has performed over 70 video games in a season simply as soon as because the 2019-2020 season. Additional, Cousins had a -1 ranking this yr, simply barely higher than his profession common. Whereas Cousins does present extra on the offensive finish of the ice, it’s not by a lot. Tanev could be a serious improve on the fourth line for this workforce, trying to take the following step in direction of a Stanley Cup.