The Toronto Maple Leafs took care of one of their two remaining unsigned free agents, as speedy winger Andreas Johnsson accepted his one-year qualifying offer of $787,500.
The 23-year-old Johnsson had a remarkable season for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL, scoring a point-per-game in 54 games (26 goals, 28 assists), being selected as an AHL All-Star, leading the league in scoring with 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) during the Marlies run to a Calder Cup Championship and winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (AHL Playoff MVP).
The former SHL Rookie of the Year made his NHL debut with the Leafs in mid-March and scored three points (2 goals, 1 assist) in nine games, but showed that he is ready for prime time during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with a goal and assist in six games against Boston.
Accepting the qualifying offer is a strategic move for Johnsson. With the exodus of James van Riemsdyk and Leo Komarov, the speedy winger will make the Leafs out of training camp. Leafs GM Kyle Dubas may have wanted to get him on a 2-or-3 year bridge deal coming off last season, with the belief that he would be capable of scoring 15 to 20 goals in the NHL as a rookie.
Potentially slotting alongside Nazem Kadri on the third line and possibly getting power play time, Johnsson sets himself up for a bigger payday on a bridge deal next summer if he does put up good numbers next season.
Johnsson is still under control as a restricted free agent or arbitration-eligible RFA for another three seasons after his one year deal expires, but the upside of a bridge deal coming off last season was preemptively locking him up before he put up good NHL numbers.
*******
Here is the latest edition of "The Leafs Convo", please watch and subscribe to our YouTube page.and/or listen on iTunes and keep the podcast going by contributing through Patreon.com.
We discuss the Leafs signing of Frederik Gauthier, some Blue Jays chatter and D options that are available to Kyle Dubas:
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»