Done deal: Maple Leafs deal for the rights stuff and have first crack at signing veteran defenceman.

LAS VEGAS—Whether it was purchasing Chris Tanev’s negotiation rights, choosing what to do with Timothy Liljegren, or drafting Ben Danford, Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving’s week in Las Vegas was all about defencemen.

He made no secret of his desire to enhance his blue line, a process that will continue into free agency, which begins Monday.

Treliving began two days of the selection at the Sphere by selecting Danford, a right-handed defensively sound blueliner from the Oshawa Generals, and concluded by gaining the negotiation rights to Tanev, one of the biggest names among the pending free agents, from the Dallas Stars.

“As it got closer and looked it liked he wasn’t going to re-sign in Dallas, we wanted to jump the queue and get to him before free agency started,” Treliving claimed. “That is what we will do. I know the player well. We will get to work on it. I’m excited to get the opportunity to speak directly with him.”

Tanev was born in East York, however he now primarily resides in Markham. He’s 34 years old, six feet two, and a right-handed shot, which checks off a lot of the boxes Treliving looks for in defensemen. When Treliving was in charge of the Calgary Flames, he signed Tanev to a four-year, $18 million (US) contract. Tanev’s camp is said to be seeking an increase from the $4.5 million average annual salary.

Tanev’s shot-blocking, tough-as-nails reputation expanded this season during the playoffs with Dallas.

“He’s an elite defensive player,” Treliving remarked. “We talk about offensive players noticing stuff and recognizing plays early. He does the same thing, but from the defensive end of the puck. An absolute fighter. A culture carrier for his chamber.

“I know the age he’s at, but he’s one of the top shutdown defencemen in the league.”

Treliving did not reveal much about his free agency plans, except to surprise the local media by announcing that the Leafs would remain in Vegas for the opening of free agency. That is primarily due to time restrictions. The draft and free agency have often occurred more than a week apart. This year, it’s only two days.

He did not say which of the team’s pending restricted free agents would get qualifying offers, which effectively preserve the Leafs’ negotiating rights and safeguard the team in the event of an offer sheet. Liljegren, forwards Nick Robertson and Connor Dewar will have to wait until Saturday’s deadline to find out.

And, with the Leafs hovering around $18 million to $20 million under the salary cap pending Tanev’s announcement, Treliving was hesitant to tip his hat to unrestricted free agents Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi, both of whom have shown a strong desire to return.

“We’ll be in touch with them both,” Treliving added. “We have some holes to fill. “We will keep working on it.”

The Leafs were pleased with their draft performance. The Leafs exchanged their No. 23 pick for No. 31, using it to choose Dandorf and gaining an extra second-round pick. On Saturday, they traded the pick to Florida in exchange for a seventh-round pick (defenseman Nathan Mayes) and a second-round selection in 2025. Now the Leafs have a solid pick in 2025. They had none for the first four rounds, until the flip. And they got Dandorf, whom they claimed they would have selected at 23 if there were no takers for the choice.