Brandon Tanev Linked to Maple Leafs in Proposed Multi-Player Deal to Join His Brother

Yanni Gourde is one of the top trade candidates on the market this season, as the pending unrestricted free agent center is highly likely to be dealt by the Seattle Kraken.

But his teammate, Brandon Tanev, another pending UFA, has also appeared on trade boards around the league, albeit lower down. Insider Frank Seravalli, speaking on the DFO Rundown on Thursday, suggested that the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are already a prime suitor for Gourde, should look at putting a bigger deal together with Seattle to secure both:

What if you could get Gourde and Brandon Tanev in a package and reunite the brothers?

Tanev's more notable older brother Chris, of course, is in his first season with the Leafs, patrolling the blueline and blocking shots at a franchise-record pace, with 129 through 48 games.

Brandon, a left-winger, is two years younger (33) and has had a much less decorated career, but he can provide double-digit secondary scoring on the third line, which, as Seravalli's DFO co-host Jason Gregor noted, could be rebuilt in Toronto in this hypothetical trade scenario as Tanev, Gourde and Max Domi.

"I think upgrading their third line has to be their Priority No. 1 and No. 2. I think they need a center and a wing."

"I like that," agreed Seravalli. "It's got some speed, it's got some bite, it's got some ability to score, chip in every now and then, and it could be a perfect playoff line. Could be a pain in the ass."

Gregor feels that Tanev would even be likely to re-sign, to continue to play with his brother, which would minimize the impact of giving up assets for simply two 'rentals.' "I think for Toronto that would make it much more appealing for them."

He also feels that Nick Robertson would be an obvious piece to go back to Seattle, rather than a second or third-round pick.