The 30-year-old defenseman scored 20 points (two goals, 18 assists) in 69 games with the Vancouver Canucks last season and seven points (one goal, six assists) in 17 postseason games.
"It was definitely a bit of a stressful day," Tanev said Saturday. "I'm usually pretty easygoing, don't get very nervous or anxious, but yesterday, I'm not going to lie, I was definitely sitting on pins and needles, sort of seeing where I'd end up. I sort of had the idea I wasn't going to be back in Vancouver after the last five or six weeks, so I was almost trying to find out where I'd end up and I'm very happy to be in Calgary."
Tanev joins former Canucks teammate Jacob Markstrom on the Flames. The goalie signed a six-year, $36 million contract ($6 million AAV) with Calgary on Friday.
"It's nice to know a few guys going into this," Tanev said. "As a goalie, I think [Markstrom is] the best goalie in the League. He stood on his head for us in Vancouver in the last few years. He works extremely hard and he's been the MVP of our team over there the last two or three seasons. As a person, he's always smiling, he's always having fun, he brings a lot of energy to the team. All good traits to have. Personally, he's one of my very best friends. I'm [excited] to come and play with him in Calgary."
Signed by Vancouver as an unrestricted free agent on May 31, 2010, Tanev has scored 118 points (22 goals, 96 assists) in 514 regular-season games and 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 33 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
