Insider: Offers To Be “Pouring In” For Chris Tanev; Days in Dallas Numbered?

One of the big questions around the Dallas Stars this offseason is 'How hard is it going to be for them to keep Chris Tanev after his tremendous late season and playoff performance?'

Back at the trade deadline, one of the main concerns of acquiring the 34-year-old was the fact that his kamikaze style of play, recklessly blocking shots with abandon, made him an injury risk. After all, he'd only played one full season (70 or more games) in his previous eight years due to an assortment of injuries.

But that concern has been dispelled, particularly after he was forced out of Game 4 of the Conference Finals against the Edmonton Oilers after taking a hard shot off his foot and leaving the arena in a walking boot, only to go ahead and play in Game 5 two days later.

Insider Elliotte Friedman told Jeff Marek on his podcast this week that Tanev's price in free agency is skyrocketing.

A (rival) team just said to me that nothing that Tanev did for the Dallas Stars in the playoffs convinced anyone that he was risky. Another team told me that he thinks the offers are going to be pouring in, and he wonders if Dallas is going to get pushed into a place it's not going to be comfortable with.

While Friedman goes on to say that when the Stars acquired Tanev from the Calgary Flames, it was a "pure rental" from the player's point of view, it turns out that he really enjoyed his time there, and of course the Stars saw first-hand what a warrior he is and what a difference he can make.

After blocking 207 shots in the regular season, he added a ridiculous 73 in 19 playoff games, 50% more blocks than any other player, save for Jacob Trouba, who was one back.

Tanev is coming off a 4-year, $4.5 million AAV deal. He's being projected to get a 3-year deal worth at least in the same range. His value to the Stars blueline was clearly evident, and as a right-shot D, he becomes even more imperative for them to prioritize. How high will they go, cap-wise, is the big question.