The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to open up their chequebook on the opening day of free agency. After paying up for Sergei Bobrovsky and Jack Roslovic, the Leafs have now signed Colton Sissons to a two-year contract. The deal will pay Sissons $4.25 million per season for the next two seasons.
After nabbing their goalie target, Leafs now focus on forwards
This has been a busy free agency day for the Leafs, as Sissons is their third signing already. Pair these moves with acquiring and extending Darren Raddysh, and the Leafs have now committed $23.75 million annually in the next two seasons. They mean business in trying to get back to Cup contention, even if these deals are somewhat overpays.
Signing Sissons for $4.25 million per counts as being a bit lofty. He’s more known as a bottom-six forward who can provide a bit of snarl. But when signing a player who just went to the Stanley Cup Final, there’s extra that you have to pay, usually. And for what it’s worth, Sissons was not the reason the Vegas Golden Knights lost.
Combine this and the Roslovic signing with the trade of Nick Robertson, and it’s clear the Leafs have a priority. Get better at forward, especially with Gavin McKenna coming into the fold and Auston Matthews healing up. They signed a better goalie, albeit one coming off a down year. Now it’s time to make sure the forwards can hold up their end of the bargain.
How will Sissons fit into this lineup?
More than likely, Sissons will slot in on the fourth line and be a better “tenacity” guy than the likes of Ryan Reaves. He can also play on the third line in a pinch and chip in small bits of offence. But primarily, his goal will be to wear down the opposition.
The number is a bit high, but the Leafs may need this. They were not very tough to play against last season, and Sissons will offer the needed truculence. Now the only question remains: do the Leafs have another signing up their sleeve?
