David Michael Tanabe (born July 19, 1980) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman.

After being forced into early retirement due to an injury, he now works for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

[1] Tanabe was in the first group of US high school hockey players to train in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the Cube, site of the National Team Development Program.

After graduating from high school in Ann Arbor in 1998, Tanabe played one year of Division 1 Hockey for the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin.

During his first NHL game on October 11, 1999, Tanabe scored his first goal during a power play against the Calgary Flames.