Toronto Maple Leafs: Dylan Gambrell Is a Curious Signing

Dylan Gambrell is a bit of a strange addition to a Toronto Maple Leafs roster that is already well out of cap space.

Now granted, the Toronto Maple Leafs are only paying the 26 year-old $775,000 for one year, but it’s a strange move.

For one, it bolsters a forward group that has already seen Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi and Ryan Reaves added while the team has yet to renew Ilya Samsonov.

For two, it is a move that realistically will serve to block the progression of younger internally developed talents to the roster.

What Does Dylan Gambrell Add to the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Gambrell played 60 games for the Ottawa Senators last season with a return of 4 goals and 10 points, so realistically projects to be a fourth line centre at best.

He does however bring reasonable experience as a penalty-killer, which shouldn’t be overlooked in a line-up that lost Alex Kerfoot, who was a reliable option shorthanded.

It’s key to recognise that this is a signing with distinct limitations beyond his penalty killing though.

For a centre, his career NHL offence amounts to just 17 goals in 233 games between Ottawa and the San Jose Sharks.

He does however make himself somewhat useful on the forecheck and turning over the puck, certainly traits that lend to the style Brad Treliving pushed for in Calgary.

If the expectations though are that he makes the line-up, it’s rather a disappointing look. After all, the likes of Pontus Holmberg, Bobby McMann and Nicholas Abrusseze among others will be hoping for their shot.

Looked at in pure singularity, this move is entirely about adding near league-minimum depth with penalty-killing experience that should cope fine in very sheltered fourth-line minutes.

Looked at in greater context, with the other signings, this deal is a shot in the dark when they don’t really need to be taking one, especially given the backlog of players trying to graduate the Toronto Marlies.

This move checks boxes in a similar way to the dual signings of Zach Aston-Reese and Nicolas Aube-Kubel last summer – useful PK additions that play a more forecheck focused style on the fourth line.

Low offence generators that aren’t about to move the needle in game action and are almost just there to eat minutes while Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and company catch their breath.

The Toronto Maple Leafs now sit $8.8 million above the salary cap (before Muzzin hits LTIR) so we have to ask; who’s heading out the door?

In the meantime, welcome to Toronto, Dylan Gambrell!