Top 5 Worst Toronto Maple Leafs Free Agent Signings of All Time

4. Jeff Finger

4 year $3.5M AAV 6.1%

I remember hearing about this signing when it happened, I was out for Canada Day fireworks and my friend and his dad were making fun of the Leafs new signing, Jeff Finger. I was 10 years old and trusted in my favourite team blindly. As you might expect given the list this lands on, it did not work out for the club. 

There is a conspiracy theory that the Leafs messed up and meant to sign Finger’s Avalanche teammate, Kurt Sauer but got the two mixed up somehow. The fact this conspiracy theory even exists shows how incompetent and dysfunctional the management group at the time was. But regardless, who was Jeff Finger?

Finger was drafted in 1999 and spent years developing in College and in the minor leagues, finally getting a shot with the Colorado Avalanche during the 2006-07 season playing 22 games with them. The next year, he took on a top-four role averaging nearly 20 minutes a game and consistent penalty kill time. His play drew praise from newly appointed head coach Ron Wilson, who’s San Jose Sharks played against the Avalanche a lot being in the Western Conference with them.

In Toronto, Finger did not live up to the expectations that contract set for him. He played only 66 games in his first season, recording a career high 23 points and once again playing a top-four role, this time averaging over 20 minutes per night. The next year with a few key blueline signings and due to reported issues with Wilson, Finger played a massively reduced role limiting him to only 39 games and playing under 14 minutes per game. 

After this season, Finger would never play another NHL game after suffering a knee injury before the season and was put on waivers and sent to the minors upon recovery. He played a combined 54 games with the Marlies over the two final seasons of his deal and would never play another professional hockey game after his contract expired.

The legacy of Finger is strange and complex. On one hand, he probably should not have been given the contract he received. On the other hand, he did not live up to the expectations at all and was wrongfully thrust into a top role when he was likely more of a bottom-pair/seventh defender. Either way, he made more money than most will ever see in their lives. Taking into account the deal was not very long and at a relatively low caphit, he lands only at fourth.