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3 Veteran UFA Defenseman Toronto Maple Leafs Should Sign

By Stephen Nixon

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Zach Bogosian #22 and Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a 4-2 win with goalie Frederik Andersen #31 over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 10: Zach Bogosian #22 and Justin Holl #3 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a 4-2 win with goalie Frederik Andersen #31 over the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on February 10, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – MAY 31: Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens is tied up by Zach Bogosian #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs . (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Zach Bogosian

It worked so well last year, so why not bring Zach Bogosian back for round two?

It’ll be very interesting to see what Bogosian is looking for as a UFA this year. Although they’re not the exact same type of player, I get a lot of Kevin Shattenkirk vibes when I think of Bogosian.

Shattenkirk had a big contract with the New York Rangers and then was bought-out by them, only to sign in Tampa Bay on a cheap contract and ultimately win a Stanley Cup with them. After that one year he signed a $3.9M contract in Anaheim and made back all of that lost money in New York.

Bogosian isn’t quite as skilled as Shattenkirk, but it wouldn’t be shocking if a contending team with a little bit of cap-space offered him between $2-3M for the next two-three years. That’s a lot of cash, but after seeing him do so well during the cup run in Tampa, then being a great leader and veteran presence in Toronto, on another contending team, he may be valued at a higher price point than we think.

If Bogosian enjoyed his time in Toronto and wants to run it back with the Leafs at a similar price point, the Leafs should sign him immediately. However, if he is looking for a higher priced contract, it may not work out.

Regardless, the Leafs should seriously consider re-signing Bogosian and keeping the same defensive group together next year, as they performed at a high-level last season.

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