NHL free agency: First-day deals hit and miss for Leafs
Signing David Clarkson didn’t pay off for the Leafs. Patrick Marleau has delivered.
The Maple Leafs have signed a great number of free agents over the year, some better that others. Tyler Bozak, now a St. Louis Blue, stands out as one of the best college free-agent signings in league history. But when it comes to the salary-cap era and making a splash in the opening days of free agency, the Leafs’ record is a mixed bag:
PATRICK MARLEAU (2017)
Three years, $18.75 million U.S. A year ago, the speedy, agedefying winger arrived as the first real sign that an established NHL star believed in the Leafs’ rebuild featuring Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. The 38-year-old didn’t dis- appoint with a 27-goal campaign.
DAVID CLARKSON (2013)
Seven years, $36.75 million The Leafs believed they got the best third-line winger in the NHL, but Clarkson — based on the inflated contract — wanted to “do more,” as they say. He started the season with a 10game suspension and things went downhill from there. The terms of the deal were deemed an albatross, and his legacy is a trade with the Blue Jackets for Nathan Horton, who never played for the Leafs and will eat up $5.3 million in cap space for another two seasons.
TIM CONNOLLY (2011) Two years, $9.5 million
While chasing centres to play with Phil Kessel, the Leafs lost a bidding war for Brad Richards. Based on how things worked out for Richards as a Ranger, maybe that wasn’t the worst thing. Connolly, the ex-Sabre, never panned out and before long Bozak was Kessel’s centre again. Connolly scored 13 goals in his first season and then was buried in the minors.
MIKE KOMISAREK (2009)
Five years, $21.5 million GM Brian Burke went public about wanting a pugnacious, tenacious team. Signing the bruising, stay-at-home Komisarek from Montreal seemed like the kind of move that would stabilize a young blue line on a Leafs team that didn’t think it was far from the playoffs. Komisarek never quite worked out.
JEFF FINGER (2008) Four years, $14 million
Interim GM Cliff Fletcher seemed to spend just to spend, giving a 27-year-old journeyman defenceman with 94 games under his belt a massive deal for the time. Finger finished his career as a Marlie.
JASON BLAKE (2007)
Five years, $20 million Finally, a scoring winger for Mats Sundin. That was the idea when Toronto signed the former Islanders winger after a 40-goal season. Blake’s numbers went downhill — 50 goals over three seasons — and he wore the mantle of goat for the Leafs’ descent to non-playoff status.
ERIC LINDROS (2005) One year, $1.55 million
Like Tavares, Lindros was a first-round pick pursuing his childhood dream of playing for the Maple Leafs. It was one of the first deals of the salary-cap era. Worn down by injuries and time, the hall of famer played just 33 games for the Leafs.