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Top 10 Best UFA Signings in Toronto Maple Leafs History

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares #91 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares #91 looks on against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on October 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Patrick Marleau #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

#10. Patrick Marleau

During the Free Agency period in summer, 2017, Leafs fans saw plenty of optimism. Their team had just made the playoffs for the first time since 2004 in a full 82-game regular season and with stars Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner only going to improve, it was a special time in Leafs Nation.

As a result, as free agency hit, everyone expected the team to sign a defenseman. The offense seemed intact, but a defenseman was something the team desperately needed.

Instead, Lou Lamoriello and company decided to sign Patrick Marleau to a three-year $18.75 million contract.

Although Marleau only played out two of those three years and the team needed to trade a first-round draft pick to get out of the contract, the deal was worth it. Marleau scored 27 goals in his first year and provided a veteran presence in the dressing room that you can’t buy.

Marleau’s contract was definitely too rich by the end of it, but he was still a very good second-line player and leader that Matthews and Marner adored.

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