“Winning in Toronto is the ultimate goal”

After Signed a six-year, $4.5 million AAV contract in TorontoChris Tanev talked about his decision to return to his hometown to compete for the Stanley Cup.

Can you say the Leafs were the local team you watched growing up? You’re from here and you know Brad Treliving. Did all of these factors play a role in your decision to come to Toronto?

Tanev: It’s a team with elite talent and some of the best players in the world. They were very successful in the regular season. It was impressive to watch their top players.

I’m from here. I grew up in East York, so I’m a Toronto kid. I’m really looking forward to raising my family here.

I worked with Tre for three years in Calgary. He’s an honest guy and a really good person. He wants to win just as much as I do. There are a lot of similarities.

How have the last few days unfolded? Did you think it was inevitable after the Leafs traded your rights?

Tanev: The last few days have been stressful for me. When I realized Dallas wasn’t going to work out and Toronto was able to trade my rights, I wouldn’t say it was inevitable. I think my agent, Tre and Brandon (Pridham) worked hard the last day. They figured out how we could make this work.

It’s super exciting for me to come home and play for a team with so much history and so much expectation. Of course, winning in Toronto is everyone’s ultimate goal.

It’s hard to sacrifice your body in shooting lanes, and you’re considered one of the best in the league at it. Where does this need to sacrifice come from? Have you always had it? Can you identify its roots?

Tanev: Always trying to win. That’s been the case my whole life. I have two younger brothers. We grew up fighting each other. That’s all we did. We’d come home from school and play some sport – hockey, football, basketball, wrestling, whatever. We always wanted to win and beat each other up. That’s kind of where it came from.

The ultimate goal is to win. That’s what I try to do in every game I play.

What has stood out to you most about this Leafs team after watching and playing against them over the years?

Tanev: I’ve played against them a lot over the last few years. Like I said, some of the best players in the world are on that team. You can go up and down the lineup. There’s elite talent everywhere. Just the opportunity to join that group and try to be a piece of the puzzle is extremely exciting for my family and I.

What is your most vivid Leafs memory from your childhood in the Toronto market?

Tanev: To be honest, I wasn’t a huge Leafs fan as a kid. I was a huge Red Wings fan, but I always paid attention and I always loved hockey and the passion that everyone has. I always followed the Leafs fan rivalries as a kid. Those playoff series were incredible – things I’m sure I’ll always remember.

Why didn’t you sign with Dallas after such a strong run?

Tanev: One reason is salary constraints. Another reason is family. My second child is on the way in a few months. Being close to home and the grandparents is important.

The most important thing is that I think this team is really good. There are so many elite players here. It’s not like I’m leaving Dallas to a team that hasn’t been successful in the last few years. There’s a lot of elite talent here. There’s a new coach coming in who’s a Stanley Cup winner. He’ll maybe bring a different aspect and style of play to the way we want to play here. I’m really excited about that.

What do you think about the potential of a partnership with a player like Morgan Rielly?

Tanev: I played with Mo at the World Championships a few years ago. He was great to play with. Great player and great person. I think we got along well. I’ve been talking to him for the last day and a half about how he feels about playing with me and possibly being my partner. It could definitely be a good fit.

He’s one of those elite players, and there aren’t many of those in the game. If the coach and the organization want to go down that path, I’d be happy.

When a state like Dallas has such a low income tax, is that something you consider when making this decision?

Tanev: Of course that plays a role. I can’t thank Dallas enough for how they helped me – the owners, Jim Nill and the coaches were incredible. They welcomed me with open arms. I really appreciated that.

There were a few things that didn’t work out. They do have lower state taxes, but I played in Canada for 14 years. I’m from here. My wife’s family is from nearby. There’s also a tax when you leave Canada to become a U.S. citizen. There’s an exit tax to leave Canada, so that plays a role. And there are family reasons.

A big part of it is getting on a good team. I didn’t want to leave Dallas and go to a team that wasn’t trying to win. That was a big reason why this happened.

Did you get to talk to Craig Berube a lot during the process? What style could he bring to the group?

Tanev: After Toronto traded my rights, he contacted me probably an hour or two later and I got to know him a little bit. He’s a Stanley Cup winner. He has high expectations of his players. I found that very fascinating.

I think he wants to bring a philosophy and approach to the game that can win hockey games. That’s very important to me too.