This was a great first day of NHL Free Agency. The Leafs signed a number of new faces including Jani Hakanpaa and Chris Tanev, as well as re-signed Joseph Woll for three more seasons. Elsewhere across the league, a number of former Leafs signed with new teams. Here’s where they went.
Tyler Bertuzzi
After the Leafs signed Max Domi to a four-year deal, the writing was on the wall for Tyler Bertuzzi. He then signed a four-year deal himself, this time with the Chicago Blackhawks. This deal will pay him $5.5 million per season, which feels like a lot.
Ilya Lyubushkin
After the Leafs signed Tanev to a long-term deal, the Dallas Stars were in the market for a shutdown defenceman, and signed Ilya Lyubushkin to a contract. This pays him $3.25 million for the next two seasons.
Ilya Samsonov
The former Leafs netminder will not be back in Toronto, instead electing to sign with the Vegas Golden Knights. The one way deal will see Ilya Samsonov earn $1.8 million.
T.J. Brodie
Now 34 years old, T.J. Brodie is reaching the tail end of his career but still has some gas left in the tank. The blueliner will join Bertuzzi in Chicago on a two-year deal that will pay him $3.75 million per year.
Noah Gregor
Noah Gregor was only in Toronto for this past season, and will now ply his trade up the 417 in Ottawa. The one-year one-way deal will pay him $850K.
Erik Gustafsson
The Swedish defenceman played just nine regular season games for the Leafs in 2022–23 and then spent last season in New York with the Rangers. Now Erik Gustafsson will be in Detroit on a two-year deal that will pay him $2 million per season.
Minor moves
Maxime Lajoie
The defenceman signed a one-year deal with Seattle that will pay him $775K. This is a two-way deal for Maxime Lajoie.
What to expect for the balance of free agency?
This definitely isn’t the end for the Leafs, who are projected currently to be over the salary cap by just under a million dollars. Unless they put a player on LTIR, there is a good chance that they will need to shed some salary somehow.
Knowing Brad Treliving, there is likely a big trade or two brewing before the puck drops in October. There is still lots to do between now and then.
