Canucks sign D Chris Tanev to five-year extension

The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Chris Tanev to a five-year extension.

The Vancouver Canucks have signed defenseman Chris Tanev to a five-year extension, the team announced on Tuesday.

The deal will keep Tanev in Vancouver through the 2020-21 season. The 25-year-old has two goals and 14 assists for the Canucks this season.

General manager Jim Benning said Tanev will play a big role in the team’s future.

“Chris has developed into an excellent NHL defenseman and is an extremely important part of our team,” Benning said. “He’s a player you want on the ice in the most critical points of a game and we’re excited about having him with our group as we continue to play to win today, with an eye to the future.”

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Tanev was signed as an undrafted free agent in May 2010 after playing one season of college hockey at RIT. He joined the Canucks full-time last season after splitting the previous three seasons between Vancouver and the American Hockey League.

Vancouver is currently second in the Pacific Division, two points ahead of the third-place Calgary Flames and four points up on the fourth-place Los Angeles Kings.

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- Phil Watson