ITS A DONE DEAL: Another mega star defenceman Chris Tanev committed the Maple Leafs just….

Toronto acquired the rights to Chris Tanev from the Dallas Stars, giving the Leafs an opportunity to negotiate with the defenceman before free agency, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Saturday.

In exchange, the Stars received a 2026 seventh-round pick and forward Max Ellis.

By obtaining Tanev’s rights, the Leafs can negotiate in advance and potentially offer him a seven-year contract, rather than a shorter term if they had waited until July 1 or later to sign him.

Tanev, 34, was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Dallas Stars on February 29. He contributed to the Stars reaching the Western Conference Final before they were eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers.

In 19 regular season games with the Stars, he scored one goal and four assists. During the Stars’ playoff run, he added two assists in 19 games. Overall, the Toronto-native tallied two goals and 17 assists last season, split between the Flames and Stars.

Tanev has played 14 seasons in the NHL with the Flames, Stars, and Vancouver Canucks. He is coming off a four-year, $18-million contract he signed with the Flames before the 2020-21 season.