The Toronto Maple Leafs’ July 1 shopping spree came with a pattern, and according to Elliotte Friedman, it wasn’t an accident.
Toronto made five notable signings on the opening day of NHL free agency, and the term on those deals stood out right away. Teddy Blueger, Jack Roslovic and Colton Sissons each landed two-year contracts, while Sergei Bobrovsky and Brandon Duhaime got an extra year on their respective deals.
On the latest episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Friedman said that structure lines up with the clock on Auston Matthews’ contract.
“I think there’s something to that here. It’s also two years that you know Matthews is up, right? So I think there’s that part of it, but yes, I do think that they did that on purpose,”
Matthews, 28, has two years left on the four-year, $53 million extension he signed with Toronto in 2023. He’s coming off a career-low 53-point season, finishing with 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games.
That contract timeline has put the Maple Leafs at a clear crossroads. New GM John Chayka had two obvious paths this offseason: build around Matthews and William Nylander and try to get back into the contender conversation quickly, or tear it down and start over around Gavin McKenna.
Toronto chose the first route.
Now the pressure shifts to Matthews and the Maple Leafs to show this season that they belong back in the Atlantic Division race. If they do, Matthews’ future in Toronto looks straightforward, especially given every indication that he wants to win there. If they don’t, the Leafs may have to consider whether moving their star center for a major return makes more sense before the situation gets any tighter.
In Other News...
Why The Leafs Clearly See More In Brandon Duhaime
Brandon Duhaimes arrival gives the Maple Leafs a very specific kind of depth piece, one they clearly believe can do more than just fill out the bottom six. Signed to a three-year deal, the forward brings a reputation for being hard to play against, and Toronto is betting that edge matters as much as any skill he adds to the lineup.
What makes the fit interesting is the way Duhaime is being cast around the roster, not just as a grinder but as a physical presence who can help keep younger players from getting pushed around. His history of dropping the gloves and his willingness to play a rugged game suggest the Leafs see a tougher, more useful version of the old-school deterrent, with enough offensive touch to contribute if everything clicks. [Read more 🡒]
Bobrovskys Arrival Just Changed Everything For The Leafs Goalie Future
Sergei Bobrovskys arrival in Toronto immediately reshapes the Maple Leafs goalie picture, and not just for the present. Signed to be the starter, Bobrovsky also brings the kind of veteran presence that can matter to a young prospect like Artur Akhtyamov, who still looks like part of the organizations long-term plan. For a club that has been searching for stability in net, the move gives Toronto a proven option while also setting a very different timeline for its next wave of goaltending.
Akhtyamov remains a promising name in the system, but the path to real NHL minutes just got a lot narrower. Bobrovsky is expected to handle a heavy workload and stay durable enough to keep the crease mostly spoken for, which means Akhtyamovs chances could be limited to spot duty if injuries open the door. For now, the Leafs get the security they wanted, while their prospect may have to spend a lot more time waiting for the opportunity that once looked much closer. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Just Settled A Depth Question Fans Have Been Watching
The Maple Leafs quietly wrapped up a small but important bit of business by locking in three depth pieces for the next stretch of roster planning. Forwards Jacob Quillan and Ryan Tverberg each landed one-year extensions, while defender William Villeneuve got a two-year deal, giving Toronto a little more clarity on the back end of its organizational depth chart and in the group of forwards pushing for AHL and NHL opportunities.
Villeneuve stands out as the most immediate insurance policy, a right-shot defender with limited NHL experience who is viewed as an injury call-up option when the Leafs need help. Quillan and Tverberg come with their own roster-management wrinkles, including waiver and arbitration considerations that matter if Toronto wants to keep shuffling players between the big club and the Marlies. For a team that has been watching its depth decisions closely, these were the last relevant RFA boxes left to check. [Read more 🡒]