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The Toronto Maple Leafs went on shopping on Free Agent Day, and while they found a veteran winger at a discount price, they paid full value to address their right side of their defensive corps.
As was rumored for nearly a month, the Leafs signed 32-year-old Scarborough native to a one-year, $1.5 million deal just after the beginning of the signing period on Friday. Simmonds was given permission by the Buffalo Sabres to talk with other clubs earlier in the week and the winger was offered a contract in excess of Toronto’s offer by the Habs, but chose to accept the Leafs offer to play close to home.
🚂 The Wayne Train returns home 💙#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/VuLkpJAwsV
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 9, 2020
“I think the decision was made to come home because of what the city means to us. There were other options where I probably could’ve squeezed out a little more, but it made the most sense to my family just to stay in Toronto.… Simmonds said in a conference call on Friday. “The fit on the ice, the fit off the ice — the Leafs are a first-class organization and the city of Toronto is the biggest hockey town in the world. All of that contributed to my decision.…
Simmonds believes he can return to the form that saw him score 30 goals in Philadelphia after being able to fully recover from a slew of injuries, but the big winger is expected to play more of a bottom-six physical role with the Leafs, something much needed after being pushed around in playoff losses to Boston and Columbus the last three seasons.
“I think the Leafs need a little bit of toughness. I can definitely bring that to the table. At the same time, I am a good hockey player as well and can put up offense.… Simmonds said. “It’s more functional toughness from me. I can play the game, but at the same time, I can punch your head off if need be.…
GM Kyle Dubas pulled the trigger on his big move for a blueliner Friday evening, signing free agent defenseman TJ Brodie to a four-year, $20 million deal.
“(We liked) the fact that he has played with an elite partner in (former Norris Trophy winner) Mark Giordano for a number of years now, and they’ve had a lot of success as a pair.… Dubas said, “As we have tried to find a partner for Morgan (Rielly) and/or Jake Muzzin now that can complement them and boost the results of our team, TJ and the style and way that he plays and the way he operates on the ice and his skill set defensively and with the puck — just always seemed to fit what we were looking for. That is why he has been a target of ours and why we are happy to have him here.…
Think we should sign this kid? Just did 😠pic.twitter.com/0jQOHGtepV
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 10, 2020
The 30-year-old native of Chatham, ON is left-handed but has played in the top four on the right side for most of his 10-year NHL career, as well as a penalty killer and in a shutdown role, which makes him a likely fit for major minutes with Rielly.
The contract is backloaded and pays Brodie $2.5 million in the first year, $5 million in years two and three, and $7.5 million in the final year. His AAV is the second-highest paid in free agency to a defenseman (Torey Krug signed a seven-year, $45.5 million deal with St. Louis) and includes a no-movement clause for Year 1 of the deal, but that does not make it mandatory that he will have to be protected for the Seattle Expansion Draft.
The Leafs are just over $1 million above the $81.5 million salary cap after the signings and the club still has RFA’s Ilya Mikheyev and Travis Dermott to get under contract. Dubas indicated that the club is likely done with any impactful signings unless a trade opens up some cap space, but did not close the door on adding free agents at a bargain later in free agency.
“I can assure you that Brandon has carved out a number of ways that we can dance as it pertains to being compliant on opening day without having to necessarily move somebody that people would normally look at and say, ‘They’re going to have to move this player at this salary.’ “ Dubas said. “We have a number of different ways that we can get this done here and be compliant on opening night while still being in the market here for some players that maybe aren’t getting the types of offers they want and want to come in here and see a great opportunity at lower dollars.…
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Listen to some excellent pre-draft talk with myself, Sportsology’s Russ Cohen, Anthony Mingioni, and Shane Malloy.
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