Penguins forward Brandon Tanev turns to Rollerblading during the NHL's hiatus
When the Penguins signed forward Brandon Tanev last summer, it raised some eyebrows.
Why would they offer a $21-million, six-year contract, the longest such deal in franchise history, to an undrafted 28-year-old who never scored more than 14 goals in an NHL season?
Evgeni Malkin did quite a bit to snuff out any criticism during the early days of training camp in September.
“Tanev is probably the fastest guy in the NHL,” boasted the franchise center, who has played with speedsters such as Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel on his wing.
In his first season with the Penguins, Tanev has shown he is worthy of that contract and Malkin’s endorsement. Having played in 68 of a possible 69 games, Tanev has 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) while primarily playing on a defensive line with Zach Aston-Reese and Teddy Blueger. His ferocious forechecking style has, at least in a visible sense, restored an element of tenacity management felt was lacking in 2018-19.
And while he might not score that often, when he does, it usually is profound as he is second on the team with four winning goals, including two in overtime.
So how does “the fastest guy in the NHL” maintain his skating when ice rinks across North America are closed off in the middle of a pandemic?
He skates.
On asphalt.
“I’ve been Rollerblading a lot,” Tanev said during a video conference with local reporters Wednesday. “It kind of mimics the stride of being on the ice, or as close as you can really get. So I’ve been trying to Rollerblade as much as I can, especially when the weather is nice.
“Obviously, maintaining social distancing and following the rules. More or less, rollerblading is probably the closest thing that I’ve been doing a ton of to maintain a skating stride.”
While much of the United States has been caught up in 1990s nostalgia in recent weeks thanks to ESPN’s “The Last Dance” docu-series about the Chicago Bulls dynasty, Tanev and several other NHLers have turned to a popular relic from that decade — Rollerblades — in order to keep their conditioning as refined as possible for the NHL’s potential resumption of play.
“I didn’t have Rollerblades with me here in Pittsburgh,” Tanev said. “I had a pair back home, but I figured it was just easier to order a pair online rather than get them sent across the border from Toronto. I got a pair shipped to me, and I’ve been kind of going on longer Rollerblades (sessions).”
Those octo-wheeled excursions aren’t just brief strolls around the neighborhood.
“Maybe I go for a 30-, 40-minute Rollerblade where it’s kind of just a steady pace (and it’s) more scenic outside and enjoying some fresh air. During this time, it’s great to go outside and enjoy the weather that you can.”
Tanev even finds ways to exert himself beyond those lengthy treks.
“There are some drills,” he said. “Maybe you can do sprints up hills. If you have a stick and puck in your situation where there’s some free space in the parking lot. You’re able to get out there and kind of handle the puck. Obviously, it’s not the same as being on ice, but in a sense, it’s pretty darn close to what we’re used to.”
Beyond his his off-ice workouts, Tanev has prioritized keeping his cognitive faculties sharp during the NHL’s hiatus.
“I started a 500-piece puzzle and was able to finish that,” Tanev said. “I’ve moved on to a 1,000-piece puzzle. It’s great to keep the mental aspect of yourself strong during these times. Obviously, it’s a difficult time. To get your mind thinking and put it in a situation like it is on the ice when you’re trying to think through a certain situation, you’re able to do that when you’re looking for a piece. Maybe you’re getting frustrated and you don’t want to do it anymore. Your mind is telling you to give up, but at the same time, that puzzle needs to be finished. Without that piece that you’re looking for, that puzzle can’t be finished. It’s a mental grind at times, especially with the higher-volume puzzles that have a ton of pieces.”
Tanev’s ability to surge around the ice like a comet is the primary reason he reached the NHL, let alone received a lengthy contract. But there’s a difference between skating fast and playing fast.
The Penguins have had limited players such as forwards Rico Fata or Konstantin Koltsov who could be described more in the former. Tanev and current teammate Bryan Rust would be, by any measure, defined by the latter.
“The game is getting quicker and quicker every year, and the players are getting faster,” Tanev said. “When you have that ability, it also comes down to kind of thinking the game a little differently too because sometimes you might be a little too quick and putting yourself out of position. It’s putting yourself in a great position to use your speed and use it well so you’re not just running around and playing an aimless game.”
The Penguins haven’t been able to get any points since their last game, a 5-2 road win against the New Jersey Devils on March 10.
In the meantime, Tanev is doing what he does best, just on a different surface.
“I think it’s just the joy of getting on a pair of skates, whether they’re ice hockey skates or Rollerblades,” Tanev said. “It’s something that we all cherish.”
Seth Rorabaugh is a TribLive reporter covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A North Huntingdon native, he joined the Trib in 2019 and has covered the Penguins since 2007. He can be reached at srorabaugh@triblive.com.
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