Tanti's production decreased significantly in 1988–89 with 24 goals and 49 points over 77 games. Midway through the following campaign, he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a six-player trade on January 8, 1990. Tanti left Vancouver with Rod Buskas and Barry Pederson in exchange for Dave Capuano, Andrew McBain and Dan Quinn. Over seven seasons with the Canucks, he totaled 250 goals (which ranked second among all-time Canucks scorers, 12 behind leader Stan Smyl) and 470 points (third at the time, behind Smyl and Thomas Gradin). His 10 hat tricks, 102 power play goals and 29 game-winning goals all set team records, though they have since been surpassed. In a 2012 article by "The Province", columnist Jim Jamieson declared Tanti as the Canucks' "first true sniper" in team history.