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Blog: Vancouver Canucks (finally) re-sign defenceman Chris Tanev

After a summer of stalled talks and silence, the Canucks finally re-signed 23-year-old Chris Tanev to a new deal on Thursday.
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Tanev had seven points in 38 games for the Vancouver Canucks in 2013. Terms of his new deal were not disclosed.


1... 2... 3... PHEW.

The Canucks avoided losing a player who can be considered nothing less than an integral part of their future, re-signing fourth-year-to-be defenceman Chris Tanev on Thursday. Terms of the deal – length and cash – were not disclosed, as is usual in Vancouver.

(Of course, terms aren't important and can be assumed. The Canucks are up against the salary cap wall, so the money won't be anything that will make your knees buckle.)

Tanev – who had seven points in 38 games last season – is only 23 and has been a key member of two Canucks playoff teams, including 2011 when the team came within one game of a Stanley Cup championship.

Tanev's camp had indicated in the past couple weeks that he had all intention of remaining a Canuck, although it was reported that he was getting attention from KHL teams. He also entered this offseason by hiring an agent for the first time in his professional career.

"We are waiting to hear from them," Tanev's agent Ross Gurney told the Vancouver Sun's Brad Ziemer on August 13. "We did have some momentum for a period of time a couple of weeks back, but we haven't heard back from them since our last conversation."

With the signing, the Canucks have now filled out their top five positions on defence, with Kevin Bieksa, Dan Hamhuis, Jason Garrison, and Alex Edler assumed to be the top four, although Tanev had an excellent 2013 and outplayed his superiors on several occasions.

Frank Corrado, Yannick Weber, Peter Andersson, Cam Barker, and Derek Joslin are also expected to fight for a spot in Vancouver's starting six.

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