Grading Every Toronto Maple Leafs Offseason Move
By Reuben Gasee
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 28: Wayne Simmonds #17 of the Buffalo Sabres (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
A player with grit
One of the Toronto Maple Leafs biggest needs was grit and toughness. To address this, the Leafs signed Wayne Simmonds to a one year deal worth $1.5 million. Obviously team toughness doesn’t come from one guy playing on the fourth line, but it is possible that Simmonds’ style rubs off on the Leafs younger players.
Simmonds will not only bring toughness to this team which they have lacked for the past little while but he can also play some solid hockey. He totaled 25 points in 68 games with two rebuilding teams in the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres last season.
Expect Simmonds to have a better season now that he’s playing for a Stanley Cup contender.
Grade: A+
Addition to the Blueline
Another weakness on the Maple Leafs was the blue-line, specifically they needed a player to play with Morgan Rielly.
With guys like Tyson Barrie and Cody Ceci departing via free agency (as expected), it only made the urgency to get blue line help more urgent. Dubas went out and signed T.J. Brodie who he longed admired for as a target for the Leafs blue line. Now, Morgan Rielly gets the best partner he’s ever had in his career.
In Brodie’s ongoing 10 year career which has all been spent with the Calgary Flames, he’s put up 266 points but he’s known more for his defensive abilities and instincts which is what the Leafs needed.
His contract is for four years and $20 million. Some may say it’s a year too much but it will definitely help the Leafs blue line over those four years.