Thursday night had to be the easiest Tanev family reunion in the siblings’ 10 years of NHL rivalry.
After all their time on opposite coasts, they played each other a few subway stops from where both grew up in East York as Brandon and the Seattle Kraken took on new Maple Leafs defenceman Chris.
“Anytime you get to play against your brother and have family and especially in your hometown, it’s a fun moment,” said Brandon, a left winger who at 32 is two years younger than the Toronto defenceman. “It was great catching up with family and friends (on the Kraken’s day off here Wednesday), but when the puck drops, it’s all business.”
Across the hall, Chris joked he always had been the favourite son as Brandon “was a troublemaker” in their youth among three brothers in all.
“That’s probably correct,” Brandon said. “Especially with him wearing the Leafs jersey, now they’ll be cheering for him. But they’re happy we have the opportunity to play against each other.”
Their street hockey games were intense with the young brother/older brother dynamic, though neither pretended to be Leafs. Chris, a Detroit Red Wings supporter, would emulate Steve Yzerman, while Brandon was a Dallas Stars fan who idolized Mike Modano.
“Anyone who has a brother knows that competition, growing up trying to beat each other in everything you do,” Chris said. “Street hockey, basketball, video games, it doesn’t change much.”
Starting on a Pittsburgh team that never missed the playoffs, Brandon had some good post-season experience as Chris only had a few rounds with Calgary and Vancouver before Dallas acquired him last year. After a fast start, expansion Seattle missed the playoffs in 2023-24.
“I don’t know the exact head-to-head battle, but hopefully it continues to go in my favour,” Chris said.
THE RICH GET RICHER
While the Leafs have not generated much silver in winning zero Stanley Cups since 1967, they’re still gold among all NHL franchises.
The American publication Sportico, which covers the business of pro franchises, recently listed the Leafs as leading the NHL’s 32-team pack with a value of $3.66 billion US — more than $5 billion Cdn. — a rise of 38% since last year that can be largely attributed to Bell Communications selling its 37.5% stake in MLSE to Rogers.
The New York Rangers are second at $3.25 billion US, ahead of the Montreal Canadiens, who share a historic Canadian connection with the Leafs, and are estimated at $2.93 billion.
Winnipeg is last among the seven Canadian teams at $1.1 billion, nudging out 32nd-place Columbus ($1.06 billion). The average rise in value across the league was 37%.
Asked about the accuracy of the Sportico report, a spokesman for MLSE said “we have consistently not commented on these valuations over the years and stay consistent with that.”
LOOSE LEAFS
The departed Timothy Liljegren had the distinction of being the 1,000th player in franchise history when he debuted in 2020 … Chris Tanev, who is getting heightened recognition for his shot blocks, was broached on his chances of making Team Canada for the 4 Nations Face-Off. “I just play hockey, I haven’t seen any of that. I’m just here to my job and help the Leafs win” … Seattle coach Dan Bylsma on if the Leafs look different under new coach Craig Berube: “I think they’re trying to play a little more gritty style of playoff hockey through 82 games, not just in playoffs. They’re still growing in that message. But they’re a dangerous team any way they play.”
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