Brandon Tanev Bio
Brandon Tanev (born December 31, 1991) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a left winger for the Utah Mammoth of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Kraken. Born in Toronto, Tanev followed his older brother Christopher Tanev into ice hockey but took some time off from the sport until he underwent a growth spurt. Starting his career in junior hockey, he later played collegiate ice hockey for the Providence Friars before making his NHL debut in 2016.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Tanev was born on December 31, 1991, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, as the middle child of Mike and Sophie Tanev. All three sons began playing ice hockey at a young age, with Brandon spending his minor ice hockey career with the Toronto Young Nationals of the Greater Toronto Hockey League. Both Brandon and his older brother Christopher were cut from their respective minor hockey teams when they were 15 years old for being undersized, and Brandon 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. 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, where he scored 11 goals in 58 regular season games and an additional three goals in 10 playoff games.
Path to Hockey
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. Tanev finished his freshman season at Providence with four goals, seven assists, and a +6 plus–minus in 33 games. After spending the summer at the Washington Capitals development camp, Tanev returned to the Friars for the 2013–14 Hockey East season. He finished the regular season with six goals and 15 points, while Providence gained its first berth in the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament since 2001. Tanev’s collegiate career peaked in the 2014–15 season when he played a crucial role in leading Providence to its first national championship, scoring the game-winning goal against Boston University. Tanev finished his collegiate ice hockey career with 35 goals and 42 assists in 149 games.
Brandon Tanev Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Upon the completion of his collegiate hockey career, Tanev signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $925,000 with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. He joined the Jets for the final three games of the 2015–16 season, making his NHL debut on April 5, 2016. Tanev opened the 2016–17 NHL season with the Jets, making their opening night roster out of training camp. He scored the first two goals of his NHL career on November 4, pushing Winnipeg to a 5–3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. He struggled to produce outside of that night, with two goals and two assists through 35 games, and was sent down to the Manitoba Moose, the Jets’ American Hockey League affiliate, on December 28 to make room for players returning from the injured reserve. Tanev finished the regular season with 18 points in 61 games for the Jets before moving onto his first postseason appearance in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Breakthrough (2019–2021)
A free agent after the 2018–19 season, Tanev left the Jets to sign a six-year, $21 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2019. His first goal with the new team came on October 16, scoring short-handed against the Colorado Avalanche to take the game 3–2 in overtime. Tanev’s primary line during the 2019–20 season was used primarily to exhaust opposing teams’ top scorers, allowing players like Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel to focus on their own offensive production. Tanev opened the 2020–21 NHL season on the third line right wing, but he suffered multiple injuries that limited his playtime. Tanev was selected by the Seattle Kraken during the 2021 NHL expansion draft on July 21, 2021. He scored two goals in the Kraken’s first franchise win and became a fan favorite for his energy and grit on the ice.
Notable Works and Milestones
Brandon Tanev has been recognized for his contributions on the ice, including his role in leading Providence to its first national championship and his impactful play with the Winnipeg Jets and Pittsburgh Penguins. He has become known for his physical style of play and his ability to contribute to his team’s success in various roles.
Brandon Tanev Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Brandon Tanev has not received significant individual award nominations, but he has been a key contributor to his teams’ successes in the NHL.
Brandon Tanev Awards Won
Brandon Tanev has not won any major individual awards in his career, but he has played a crucial role in his teams’ achievements, including a national championship with Providence.
Brandon Tanev Family
Brandon Tanev is the younger brother of fellow professional ice hockey defender Christopher Tanev. His brother has played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs after spending several seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames. Brandon and Christopher’s younger brother Kyle has also played hockey, most recently appearing with the Caledonia Corvairs of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Trenton Golden Hawks of the OJHL.
Personal Life
Brandon Tanev has been active in promoting awareness and conversations around mental health within the NHL. He participated in the #HockeyTalks campaign to promote mental health conversations and resources in Manitoba. Tanev’s expression on his official team headshot with the Pittsburgh Penguins became an Internet meme in 2020, and he has recreated the image for his subsequent teams. Tanev is of Macedonian descent, with his grandparents having been born there.
