Leafs Free Agency Frenzy
Free Agency opened yesterday and Brad Treliving
sure was busy. It all started at the end of Day 2 of the entry draft when
Toronto traded Max Ellis and a 7th-round pick in 2026 to Dallas for the
Negotiating rights to Chris Tanev.
For 99% of the fanbase, this move wasn’t a
surprise, but of course, there’s that one percent that overreacted wondering
why Toronto would move Ellis. Ellis in two seasons with the Marlies had 34
points, Treliving moved him because he was on an expiring contract and wasn’t
going to stay and wasn’t in Brad’s plans. After the trade went down Tanev’s
agent said “There has been no contact with the Maple Leafs”. This quote sent
some fans into panic mode scared Toronto wouldn’t reach a deal. First off if
you honestly think that Treliving made the trade for Tanev without an agreement
or there was zero contact with Tanev’s camp before the trade was made then I
don’t know what to tell you because the entire hockey world knew Chris Tanev
would join the Maple Leafs with Brad at the helm. When Free Agency opened at
Noon Eastern Toronto announced Tanev agreed to a six-year deal paying him 4.5
million dollars a season. So what does Tanev bring to Toronto? He’s a guy who
can play both ends of the ice he can bring some physicality and does a really
good job keeping the opponent along the boards in low-scoring areas. He also
blocks shots like an animal. In his 15 seasons, he has had 100 or more blocks 10
times. Tanev also gives the Leafs a right-handed shot something the team has
been searching for, for as long as I have been alive. Now, of course, there are
question marks surrounding this signing yes there are concerns due to Tanev’s
injury history but again when you average 100 blocks a season you’re going to
pick up injuries. Age I know is a concern because when I posted the news of
this signing on social media his age was the first thing mentioned. Chris Tanev
is 34 and if he plays the full term he’ll be 40. Simply put he will not finish
this contract Tanev will play a few seasons and then wind up on LTIR and likely
have a role with the organization like Jake Muzzin does.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson:
Toronto would then play their part in what seems to be the dismantling of the Florida Panthers. Treliving would give Oliver a 4-year contract paying him 3.5 million a season. This signing raised a few eyebrows from fans and admittedly I’m on the fence about this addition but after some thought, I am interested to see how he will fit with Toronto in Craig Berube’s system. Sure his plus-minus may not look great over the years but if you watched OEL with the Panthers throughout the season and playoffs you saw the upside that his game can bring to a team. Oliver is a good puck-moving defender who is a left-shot but can play the opposite side. I think Ekman-Larsson will be a key piece in improving the powerplay for the Leafs and if you look at the Stanley Cup run in Florida every time the Panthers needed a goal Paul Maurice had OEL out there in important moments and it would usually work out so I am sure the Leafs hope OEL can sprinkle some of that magic onto the Leafs special teams when playoffs arrive.
Matt Murray:
Toronto brought back Matt Murray on a 1-year deal worth the league minimum. I know fans were wondering why. Well, simply, Murray gives Toronto the goaltending depth they need, he likely wouldn’t get claimed off Waivers after having hip surgery and can work on his game with the Marlies as well as mentor the young goalies in the Leaf system. Let's also not forget there were many times Murray bailed Toronto out. Murray in 22-23 had a record of 14-8-2. The Leafs would hope they don’t have to turn to him but the insurance is nice to have. You may be wondering why Toronto didn’t just bring back Martin Jones who went 11-8 and kept the Leafs alive last year. Jones didn’t return because of the money he was likely asking for.
Toronto would then play their part in what seems to be the dismantling of the Florida Panthers. Treliving would give Oliver a 4-year contract paying him 3.5 million a season. This signing raised a few eyebrows from fans and admittedly I’m on the fence about this addition but after some thought, I am interested to see how he will fit with Toronto in Craig Berube’s system. Sure his plus-minus may not look great over the years but if you watched OEL with the Panthers throughout the season and playoffs you saw the upside that his game can bring to a team. Oliver is a good puck-moving defender who is a left-shot but can play the opposite side. I think Ekman-Larsson will be a key piece in improving the powerplay for the Leafs and if you look at the Stanley Cup run in Florida every time the Panthers needed a goal Paul Maurice had OEL out there in important moments and it would usually work out so I am sure the Leafs hope OEL can sprinkle some of that magic onto the Leafs special teams when playoffs arrive.
Anthony Stolarz:
Toronto would once again sign a player from the Panthers as Stolarz would sign for 2 years at 2.5 million a season. Anthony has bounced around the NHL but that’s common for a goalie when he’s young but the signs of potential were there as he would have save percentages in the 920 range. Now I know fans will look at his 22-23 season with Anaheim seeing the 899 percentage in 19 appearances with only five wins. You need to remember there was a reason the Ducks have been picking early in the last few drafts, they’ve been awful. Last season however in Florida backing up Bobrovsky in 27 appearances Storlarz posted a record of 16-7-2 with a 925% and a 2.03 GAA. Anthony has a big frame standing at 6 foot 6 which will cover a lot of the net and with his movement and length combined with the play of Joseph Woll this could potentially be a very strong tandem for the Maple Leafs. I know fans will see he hasn’t started in more than thirty games in recent years and worry but again it’s a goalie tandem the Leafs are going to play both Stolarz and Woll with the hopes of keeping both goalies fresh and running with the hot hand when needed.
Toronto would once again sign a player from the Panthers as Stolarz would sign for 2 years at 2.5 million a season. Anthony has bounced around the NHL but that’s common for a goalie when he’s young but the signs of potential were there as he would have save percentages in the 920 range. Now I know fans will look at his 22-23 season with Anaheim seeing the 899 percentage in 19 appearances with only five wins. You need to remember there was a reason the Ducks have been picking early in the last few drafts, they’ve been awful. Last season however in Florida backing up Bobrovsky in 27 appearances Storlarz posted a record of 16-7-2 with a 925% and a 2.03 GAA. Anthony has a big frame standing at 6 foot 6 which will cover a lot of the net and with his movement and length combined with the play of Joseph Woll this could potentially be a very strong tandem for the Maple Leafs. I know fans will see he hasn’t started in more than thirty games in recent years and worry but again it’s a goalie tandem the Leafs are going to play both Stolarz and Woll with the hopes of keeping both goalies fresh and running with the hot hand when needed.
Toronto brought back Matt Murray on a 1-year deal worth the league minimum. I know fans were wondering why. Well, simply, Murray gives Toronto the goaltending depth they need, he likely wouldn’t get claimed off Waivers after having hip surgery and can work on his game with the Marlies as well as mentor the young goalies in the Leaf system. Let's also not forget there were many times Murray bailed Toronto out. Murray in 22-23 had a record of 14-8-2. The Leafs would hope they don’t have to turn to him but the insurance is nice to have. You may be wondering why Toronto didn’t just bring back Martin Jones who went 11-8 and kept the Leafs alive last year. Jones didn’t return because of the money he was likely asking for.
Jani Hakanpaa:
Simply put I love this signing by the Leafs it’s a 2 year deal paying Jani 1.5 million each season. Jani is an absolute giant. Jani is 6 foot 7 and hits everything. In his last three seasons in Dallas specifically, he has registered a total of 668 hits but he also provides more shot-blocking to the Leafs blue line as each of the last three seasons has 100 or more blocks each season. This is a low risk high-reward kind of signing for the Maple Leafs and I am all for it. Hakanpaa can also provide a little bit of offence as well because in the three seasons in Dallas Jani collected a total of 40 points.
I think Brad did a solid job overhauling the Leafs blue line and improving the team's goalie situation and in his media call yesterday he said “There are a few more deals in the hopper” and “We still have work to do”. So Toronto isn’t finished yet and I look forward to seeing what they do next.
Simply put I love this signing by the Leafs it’s a 2 year deal paying Jani 1.5 million each season. Jani is an absolute giant. Jani is 6 foot 7 and hits everything. In his last three seasons in Dallas specifically, he has registered a total of 668 hits but he also provides more shot-blocking to the Leafs blue line as each of the last three seasons has 100 or more blocks each season. This is a low risk high-reward kind of signing for the Maple Leafs and I am all for it. Hakanpaa can also provide a little bit of offence as well because in the three seasons in Dallas Jani collected a total of 40 points.
I think Brad did a solid job overhauling the Leafs blue line and improving the team's goalie situation and in his media call yesterday he said “There are a few more deals in the hopper” and “We still have work to do”. So Toronto isn’t finished yet and I look forward to seeing what they do next.
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