A Report Card For the Toronto Maple Leafs Free Agent Signings
The Leafs filled many needs on the first day of NHL Free Agency but was their money spent wisely? A closer look reveals a mixed bag of good and bad deals.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were active on the first day of NHL Free Agency.
Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving added two new defensemen to the fold, Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, along with goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
The Maple Leafs also signed some of their unrestricted free agents. Forward Max Domi agreed to an extension the day before Canada Day. Goaltender Matt Murray, coming off a long-term injury, was signed for depth in the net. Restricted free agent defenseman Timothy Liljegren signed a two-year deal.
With the new additions, the Leafs lineup is coming into focus after one of the biggest days on the NHL calendar. Let's look at each transaction and evaluate the deals made.
James Tanner already graded the moves, but we thought it would be fun to have at least two different takes, so let us know who is right.
Domi's Return a Feel-Good Story But Comes at a Cost
The tweet by Domi announcing his return was classic.
Max Domi put out an ALL-TIME TWEET after signing an extension with the Maple Leafs 😂😂
— BarDown (@BarDown) June 30, 2024
(Via: @maxdomi) pic.twitter.com/SRsMmgWL9D
His passion and love for Toronto endures Domi to the Leafs fan base. He plays with a snarl and takes pride in the blue and white uniform. There is no doubt Treliving and his Leafs teammates loved his in-your-face play against Bruins nemesis Brad Marchand during last year's playoffs. His 5 vs 5 playmaking is elite and he has positional versatility.
He demonstrated good chemistry with star center Auston Matthews last season when Mitch Marner was injured. Having a second top-level passer to pair with Matthews is a plus.
The downside of Domi is his defensive play. He doesn't kill penalties and is not a natural fit as a third-line center. His goal-scoring is inconsistent. Paying him meant the loss of Tyler Bertuzzi and left no money to go after a more natural third-line center.
Grade: C
Matt Murray
Bringing back Matt Murray on a one-year deal for $ 875,000 is a low-risk, high-reward signing. The Maple Leafs have decided to give Joseph Woll every opportunity to win the starter's job. It's a gamble given Woll's injury history, so capable backups are necessary.
Murray is only 30 years old and has a championship pedigree from his days with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He and the Leafs are familiar with one another. Murray offers a higher ceiling than previous third-stringer Martin Jones and with major surgery behind him comes the opportunity for a fresh start. The low AAV and short-term make this a great move.
Grade: A-
Chris Tanev
Chris Tanev has been on Treliving's radar since last year's trade deadline. He did not have the ammunition to acquire the defenseman then, but was proactive before the start of free agency and acquired his rights for a late-round pick and a prospect. Treliving finalized the deal and signed the right-handed defenseman for six years and $27 million.
Tanev is the type of defenseman the Maple Leafs have long sought; a physical defender who blocks shots and plays a shut-down role against the opposition's best forwards. He plays defense first and will be entrusted in defensive zone situations.
He is used to playing a defense-first role beside an offensive partner, having done that throughout his career. He is likely to join Morgan Rielly on the Leafs top pairing. It should allow Rielly additional freedom to contribute more offensively.
The $4.5 million AAV for Tanev is fine. The problem with this deal is the term. Tanev's style of play makes him susceptible to injury. He will be 40 years old when this contract expires. The late thirties are a dicey time for a professional athlete.
Tanev is exactly the type of defenseman the Maple Leafs needed to add (age aside), but it's a huge gamble.
Grade C
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The signing of Ekman-Larsson counters what Tanev brings. He brings offense to the blue line. He can help with the power play and in transition, getting the puck to the Leafs stars up front.
Being on the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers increased his value. After signing for 1-year at $2.5 million last summer with Florida, the Maple Leafs made a four-year commitment for $14 million, a $3.5 million AAV.
Ekman-Larsson is 32. The Leafs back end will now be counting on three, thirty-plus-year-old defensemen to play over twenty minutes a night on defense.
The left-handed defenseman's offensive abilities combined with the Maple Leafs talent at forward is intriguing, but a four-year deal is excessive. Both the additions on defense have a "boom" or "bust" feel.
Grade: C-
Stolarz Signing Is a Potential Hit
Prior reports of the Leafs interest in signing Stolarz came to fruition. Since Toronto missed out on Jakob Markstrom and others on the trade market, it was apparent a backup with some promise would be attained.
Stolarz is coming off a strong season with the Panthers, enhanced by that team's commitment to defense. He has shown flashes during his years as a backup. Most intriguing is his size. He stands 6'6" and covers a lot of net.
Like Woll, Stolarz has never experienced a heavy workload. His career high in games played is 28. His deal is for two years and $5 million. The terms and price are right for a goalie who will be motivated by an opportunity for more playing time with a new team.
Grade: B+
Overall Grade For the Leafs Signings
It wasn't plausible for the Maple Leafs to be in on signing big-name players such as Steven Stamkos or Brandon Montour.
They had too many holes to put their salary cap space toward larger contracts.
The Leafs needed at least two defensemen and they got them. The AAVs for Tanev and Ekman-Larsson are reasonable, especially considering what former Leafs Ilya Lyubuskin and Joel Edmundson received.
The term for Tanev and Ekman-Larsson is excessive, but Treliving identified Tanev as his top target and he was one of the best free-agent defensemen available.
The career arch of Nikita Zadorov moving forward will be fascinating. The Leafs division rival, the Boston Bruins signed him for a similar six years and a $5 million AAV. He is five years younger than Tanev. Did Toronto and Zadorov have any interest in each other?
Stolarz and Murray provide competition for Woll. Woll has the edge to be the Leafs number-one goaltender, but all three must realize their opportunity.
The limited experience of Woll and Stolarz plus the injury history of Woll and Murray means all are likely to see the ice. The team will benefit from the internal competition.
The Toronto Maple Leafs signings were middling. "Boom" or "bust" is an appropriate description.
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