With another edition of Seattle Kraken Grades, we now look at fan-favorite Brandon Tanev. Known for his viral headshots every single season, and his 200-foot game to boot, let's see how 2023-24 faired for the 32-year-old left winger.
Season Recap
Let's make sure we are all on the same page, it was a down year for basically the entire Kraken team. There wasn't much to be happy about, across the entire team, but the offensive production certainly stung the most. Tanev was another forward who did not show much in 2023-24.
In 66 games, he only mustered seven goals and nine assists for 16 points. Tanev is not a guy who will go out there and give you 20 to 30 goals a season, which is evident in his season-high 16-goal mark set in the successful 2022-23 season. But, even at those numbers, it was a down year for him.
Tanev did still manage to show some light at the end of the tunnel, with retaining his tenacious play style. He laid the body 148 times and blocked 62 shots last season. Even without producing offense, he was able to still contribute something with his average ice time of 14:35 per game.
For his performance in 2023-24, we give Tanev a "C". He was able to do his job correctly, but as evident in the season prior, he can play a physical game and still create offensive opportunities for the Kraken. This upcoming season is especially important for Tanev, as it is the final year of his six-year, $21 million deal he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019. Can he show a better performance, and be brought back to the Kraken in 2025-26?
Do you agree with Tanev's grade for 2023-24?