Report: Quinn Hughes has recommended Chris Tanev to Canucks management

By all indications, the Vancouver Canucks are shaping up to be an aggressive buyer ahead of the March 8 NHL trade deadline.

One of the top potential targets for the Canucks is current Calgary Flames defenceman Chris Tanev, who is obviously no stranger to Vancouver.

Tanev, 34, spent the first decade of his NHL career with the Canucks after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of the Rochester Institute of Technology. He helped the team reach the 2011 Stanley Cup Final and played an instrumental role in helping Quinn Hughes adapt to the NHL.

With the Flames positioned to be sellers at the deadline, Tanev figures to be one of the biggest names available over the next six weeks. And as Vancouver hockey insider Rick Dhaliwal said on Wednesday’s episode of Donnie & Dhali, Hughes would love to see the Canucks bring back his old defence partner.

“Chris Tanev’s an interesting one for me, Donnie,” Dhaliwal said. “There’s a tremendous amount of respect for Tanev in the Vancouver organization, top to bottom. Everybody loves the guy. You know Quinn Hughes loves him.

“Quinn Hughes has gone to bat for him this year and told management, ‘Tanev is the guy you should target.’ Tanev loves Vancouver. I know for a fact that if he became a free agent July 1, Vancouver would be very, very, very high on his list of potential places to go.”

Tanev has one goal and nine points while averaging 19:28 of ice time in 44 games with the Flames this season. He is widely regarded as one of the premier defensive defenders in the National Hockey League.

Through 514 career games with the Canucks between the 2010-11 and 2019-20 seasons, Tanev collected 22 goals and 118 points. He added 10 points in 33 playoff contests with the team.

The Canucks will return to action on Tuesday night to take on the St. Louis Blues at 7:00 p.m. PT.