Additional Blue-Line Help
As two defensemen left via free agency, the team needed two new players to fill those empty roles. While they could have used what they have within the organization with the likes of Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren and Mikko Lehtonen that could fill those empty roles, the time to win is now and the Maple Leafs needed an established, accomplished player.
As if Brodie wasn’t enough, they signed Zach Bogosian to a one year deal worth $1 million. Bogosian is coming off a Stanley Cup run with the Tampa Bay Lightning and will make the young Leafs hungry to make their own deep playoff run.
In the 2019-20 regular season with the Sabres and Lightning, he played in 27 games getting only seven points (one goal). In the playoffs, he got four points (all assists) in 20 games while garnering a total of 44 hits. He also took 42 shots on net which is a pretty good number for a second line defenseman.
Bogosian will also bring veteran experience to a young Leafs defensive corps that lacks a player that has been through it all in his career. Bogosian, who was around back when the Atlanta Thrashers were a team as he played for them, will bring 12 years of NHL experience to the Leafs blue line.
In his 12 year career, he’s tallied 196 points in 644 games while spending a total of 597 minutes in the penalty box. He’s also recorded 1,133 hits and has blocked 948 shots.
Not only will Bogosian be a body to put on the blue line but he will also be another source of toughness which will be beneficial when Simmonds is not on the ice.