Brandon Tanev (born December 31, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Born in Toronto, Tanev followed his older brother Christopher Tanev into ice hockey, but both brothers were cut from their respective minor ice hockey teams for being too small at the age of 15. Tanev took some time off from the sport until he underwent a growth spurt at the end of high school. From there, he played two seasons of junior ice hockey with the Markham Waxers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Surrey Eagles of the British Columbia Hockey League, respectively. After going undrafted by the NHL, Tanev spent the next four years playing college ice hockey for the Providence Friars of the Hockey East conference. He was instrumental in the Friars' championship title at the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, delivering the game-winning goal against Boston University to give Providence their first national championship in franchise history.
Upon graduating from Providence, Tanev signed a contract with the Jets. He spent most of the NHL season alternating between the NHL and the American Hockey League, but spent the following two seasons on a checking line with Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp. A free agent for the season, Tanev signed a contract with the Penguins, where his line with Teddy Blueger and Zach Aston-Reese was tasked with tiring out other teams' leading scorers. Tanev missed most of the season due to injury, rejoining the team for their short stint in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Seattle Kraken selected Tanev in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, and he played with the team for the first half of their inaugural season before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Early life
Tanev was born on December 31, 1991, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the middle child of Mike and Sophie Tanev. All three sons began playing ice hockey at a young age, with Tanev spending his minor ice hockey career with the Toronto Young Nationals of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Both Tanev and his older brother Christopher were cut from their respective minor hockey teams when they were 15 years old for being undersized, and Tanev did not play competitive hockey in high school at all.
In lieu of playing ice hockey, Tanev filled his adolescence with cross country running, track and field, and soccer, and he practiced his skating independently with a private skills coach. After experiencing a growth spurt during his final year at East York Collegiate Institute, Tanev was able to secure a roster spot with the Markham Waxers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). Upon returning to the sport, Tanev scored 16 goals and 42 points in 46 regular-season games for Markham. He added another four points in six postseason games and was named Markham's rookie of the year. After spending the offseason playing in the Vancouver Canucks' prospect camp, Tanev joined the Surrey Eagles of the British Columbia Hockey League. There, he scored 11 goals in 58 regular season games, and an additional three goals in 10 playoff games.
Playing career
College
Overlooked in the NHL Entry Draft, Tanev committed to play college ice hockey for the Providence Friars of the Hockey East conference beginning in the 2012–13 season. Tanev made his collegiate debut on October 13, 2012, skating on the left wing of a line that also featured Noel Acciari and Chris Rooney for the Friars' 4–2 loss to Boston University. His first collegiate goal and assist both came in a 3–2 win over Vermont on November 2. His second goal of the year came on November 24, capping off the Friars' 7–0 rout of Brown University in the annual Mayor's Cup rivalry game. That January, Tanev provided a goal and an assist in the Friars' 6–5 road victory over New Hampshire, Providence's first win at the Whittemore Center since 2004. Tanev finished his freshman season at Providence with four goals, seven assists, and a +6 plus–minus in 33 games.