Canada Day, also known as Rick DiPietro Day, has come and gone. Even though NHL free agency lasts all summer, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been very active so far. That’s because of John Chayka and his new job as the Leafs’ general manager. Usually, when a team hires a new GM, the new hire tries to put their own fingerprints on the team immediately and tends not to trust the previous front office.
Chayka is already trying to put his fingerprints on the Leafs as they try to discover their new identity. Jim Hiller will be a big part of that as well once the season begins. Having said that, we still have to wait a couple of months for the Leafs to start their quest for a championship. So for now, I’ll just grade their offseason signings so far. Obviously, all the grades are subject to change, and these grades are given way too early.
Darren Raddysh: C
It wasn’t on July 1, but the Leafs completed a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, acquiring right-handed defenceman Darren Raddysh in exchange for a fifth-round pick in last week’s draft. Raddysh was signed for the next eight years by Toronto with an $8.5M AAV.
Raddysh is 30 years old, so eight years could be a little bit risky. However, we’re not going to pretend that Raddysh didn’t have 22 goals last season, which puts him fourth among defencemen in the NHL in goals. Granted, he was on a power play with the Hart Trophy winner, Nikita Kucherov, a guy some consider the best player in the world. It’ll be very interesting to see how Raddysh follows up a season in which he had a career high in points with a new team. I’ll be honest, I think the Leafs fell for a one-year wonder in Raddysh, and I don’t love the length of the contract, so I’m going to give this signing a C.
Sergei Bobrovsky: A-
Play the Jay and Dan Clip! Sergei Bobrovsky has signed with the Leafs for three years at $7M AAV. Bobrovsky is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers, and fans are hopeful that he’ll bring some consistency to the Leafs net. Obviously, when a new player is signed, there are a lot of unknowns, but Bobrovsky has been there before, and the Leafs are hoping that he can be Curtis Joseph-esque during his new contract.
Last season, Bobrovsky didn’t have his best season, with a record of 27–23–1, a goals-against average of 3.07, and a save percentage of .877. The Florida Panthers missed the playoffs due to injuries to key core players Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, who were both sidelined for extended periods. Bobrovsky has had a save percentage above .900 in the last four playoff runs, as Leafs fans know all too well. That’s when it matters most. If this pans out positively, it’ll be higher, but I’ll give this signing an A-.
Jack Roslovic: B+
Forward Jack Roslovic was signed to a two-year, $4M AAV deal. Roslovic brings recent 20-plus goal experience and has a history of playing with Leafs captain Auston Matthews during their junior days in the U.S. National Team Development Program. Last season, Roslovic was a UFA and linked to Toronto due to his history with Matthews, but he ultimately signed with the Edmonton Oilers.
Last season, Roslovic had 36 points in 69 games for the Oilers and was a middle-six depth forward. He’ll play a similar role for the Leafs and add some depth scoring to their lineup. I really like this addition for the Leafs, and I think Roslovic will fit in very well in the lineup. The Leafs get a B+ on this one.
Colton Sissons: C+
Colton Sissons signed a two-year contract with a $4.25M AAV to bolster the team’s down-the-middle grit. In years past, one of the Leafs key problems was forward depth, and it’s clear they’re trying to address that. The additions of Sissons, Roslovic, and even Nick Paul will definitely help with depth. Signing Sissons aggressively addresses a roster flaw, but at a premium price tag.
Last season, Sissons was with the Vegas Golden Knights, with 11 points in 66 games. However, putting up points isn’t necessarily Sissons’ game. He is primarily a bottom-six depth centre whose game is rooted in defensive responsibility and physical play rather than high-end offensive production. I watched a lot of Nashville growing up, and I like Sissons’ game. They get a C+ on this one because I believe they overpaid slightly for him.
Brandon Duhaime: B-
Brandon Duhaime was signed for three years at $2.6M AAV. He is a hard-nosed, energetic winger who plays a heavy, physical game. His primary role is to bring “edge” to the lineup, meaning he finishes his checks, wins battles along the boards, and injects grit into the bottom-six. Last season, Duhaime had nine points in 82 games with the Washington Capitals.
Like Colton Sissons, Duhaime is a textbook bottom-six forward. He isn’t brought in for high-end offensive production; rather, his value lies in wearing down opposing defenders, killing penalties, and providing a reliable, high-energy presence on the ice. He is exactly what the Maple Leafs’ bottom six needs—a high-energy, heavy-hitting winger who plays with an edge, wins board battles, and can reliably kill penalties.
However, at $2.6M AAV for three years, the team is paying a premium for that grit. For a player who registered only nine points in 82 games last season, allocating that much cap space to a purely defensive, energy role is a bit of a luxury. Especially when building out depth on a tight budget. Similar to the Sissons contract, I believe it’s a slight overpay but better because they overpaid more for Sissons. B- on this signing.
Teddy Blueger: B
Teddy Blueger signed for two years at $2.5M AAV. Blueger is a highly reliable, veteran centre who brings excellent defensive utility, penalty-killing expertise, and structure to the bottom-six. He provides a steady presence down the middle. At $2.5M AAV for two years, his contract is considered much more reasonable than the hefty price tag Sissons received.
With a career-high 28 points, Blueger fits perfectly into the type of additions the Leafs have made. Defensively minded, with an ability to kill penalties if necessary. They’ve clearly turned a corner since the very top-heavy teams of the Kyle Dubas era. The Blueger signing gets a B.
Overall thoughts
Just like that, $22M in cap space is gone for the Leafs. Excluding the Raddysh contract, I really like the Leafs’ additions despite some slight overpays. However, the salary cap will go up in future years, so maybe John Chayka is a genius, and I’m just a hater.
