The Toronto Maple Leafs took a deep dive into retooling their forward corps once NHL free agency opened Wednesday, signing Jack Roslovic, Colton Sissons and Teddy Blueger to two-year deals.
Roslovic was first, signing up with an average annual value of $4 million. Then it was a pair of right-shot centers in Sissons ($4.25 million AAV) and Blueger ($2.5 million AAV) providing further depth for Toronto as it emerged as one of the day's most active teams in terms of targeting available free agents.
The Maple Leafs were also shedding forwards, too. Toronto sent the rights to restricted free agent winger Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins early on Wednesday morning in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick. That seemed to signal the Maple Leafs would be active in addressing their forward needs throughout the day.
In Roslovic, Toronto is betting on a stable, established skater with nine years of NHL experience who can carry second or third line minutes. The 29-year-old had 21 goals and 36 points in 69 games for Edmonton last season in his second consecutive campaign with 20-plus goals scored and can fill a role on special teams for the Maple Leafs, too.
There is also familiarity between Roslovic and Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, from their time together with the US National Team Development Program from 2013-15.
Sissons, 32, was a long-time Nashville Predators before spending last season with the Vegas Golden Knights (where he had six goals and 11 points in 66 games). The veteran can play a shutdown-style role on Toronto's third line and give them some physical presence and will be an asset on the penalty kill.
Blueger, 31, is a Stanley Cup champion from his stint with the Golden Knights in 2022-23, before going to spend the last three seasons in Vancouver. He was injured in October of last year and the lower-body issue held him to just 35 appearances (with nine goals and 17 points). A healthy Blueger will give Toronto a solid bottom-six center option and penalty killer.
Toronto had to target reliable depth scorers in free agency -- especially down the middle -- given the uncertainty surrounding the status of forward Max Domi.
He suffered a complication during offseason surgery, and Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka has only said Domi will be "reevaluated" ahead of September's training camp with no definitive answer yet on whether he'll be available to start the year.
Sissons and Blueger especially will provide the Leafs with insurance at center and Roslovic has the versatility (and higher ceiling as a scorer) to boost their depth on the wing as required.
