Brandon Tanev is returning to the city where his NHL career began.
The veteran grinder was traded to the Winnipeg Jets from the Seattle Kraken ahead of Friday's deadline. Seattle received a 2027 second-round pick in return.
Tanev, 33, has collected 17 points through 60 games for the Kraken this season. The veteran has spent parts of four campaigns in Seattle after a pair of seasons in Pittsburgh.
Before that, Tanev's career began with a one-year deal signed with the Jets, fresh out of college. He made his name with the club over the next four years with the franchise. Speaking with Sportsnet's Hockey Central Trade Deadline panel following Friday's trade, Tanev said he was thrilled to be heading back to his first big-league club.
“I’m extremely excited," Tanev told the panel. "It’s obviously a nice little homecoming for myself. That’s where I started my career — I have so many great memories from there. I’m very familiar with the organization, the ownership, management, many of the staff and players.
"I’ve got a big smile on my face this morning, knowing I’m going back to Winnipeg."
The 10-year vet is playing out the final year of a six-year, $21-million deal inked back in 2019, and should provide the Jets the kind of hard-nosed intensity clubs crave in the post-season, along with some key penalty-killing minutes.
For Tanev, the move brings with it the chance to play post-season hockey once again. After missing the playoffs last year, the Kraken currently sit well out of a wild-card spot heading into this season's home stretch. The Jets, meanwhile, reign as the league's No. 1 club at the moment, sitting atop the standings with 90 points to their name through 63 games.
“This team’s been so great all year," Tanev said of his new club. "They’re a great hockey team — wherever they need me to play is where I’m willing to go. I want to go in there and help the team win games, and do whatever they ask of me. ... The city, the fans, to experience the Whiteout in the playoffs, and to be part of such a good team — it’s something that everyone wants come playoff time. There’s so many great players on that team, you know? (Connor Hellebuyck) is the best goaltender in the world. They’ve got a great coaching staff.
"To get back into that atmosphere, to be in front of the best fans in hockey, is something that I’m very, very grateful for.”
The trade marks a continued sell-off for the Kraken ahead of Friday's deadline, after the club moved out veterans Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde on Thursday.
On the other side, the contending Jets' acquisition of Tanev was part of a bigger effort to load up before what the team hopes is a deep playoff run — the club also acquired veteran Luke Schenn earlier in the day, the defender traded from Nashville to Pittsburgh earlier this week and flipped to Winnipeg on Friday.
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