The Maple Leafs added Brendan Brisson on a one-year deal today, and on the surface it’s the kind of move that barely registers. The 24-year-old appeared in three games for the New York Rangers last year, had one assist, and looks more likely to land in the minors than in a regular NHL role. It’s the sort of signing you could easily glance at and move on from.
But this one fits into something bigger.
Toronto has spent the past few years moving out a lot of its young talent and, when that process is over, not having much to show for it. That leaves a pretty clear problem: if you’ve thinned out your own pipeline, where do the next depth players come from?
The answer, at least for the Maple Leafs, doesn’t appear to be a teardown or a long reset. Instead, they’re shopping for their next wave wherever they can find it. A player like Brisson makes sense in that world because the price is minimal and the upside, even if it’s modest, is worth a look.
That seems to be the approach from new GM John Chayka. First, draft when you can.
Second, develop the prospects still in the system. Third, take a swing on a former high pick who hasn’t put it together yet.
Brisson fits that last bucket. Toronto is bringing in a young player who has shown something somewhere along the line and will get a real chance to prove himself in training camp.
The idea is not that every one of these bets pays off. Most won’t.
Brisson very well may end up in the minors, and that would be a completely normal outcome. But the Leafs seem to be building a roster that gives them a lot of shots at finding someone who does stick.
In other words, Toronto isn’t waiting for one perfect solution to its depth issue. It’s creating enough openings for one to emerge. And after trading away so much of its own future, that kind of approach may be the cleanest way to rebuild it without ever saying the word rebuild.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Could Face One Tough Decision With Reilly Smith
The Maple Leafs are weighing a professional tryout for Reilly Smith, a veteran forward whose rsum still carries plenty of value for a team looking to deepen its options. With more than 575 points and approaching 1,000 NHL games, Smith would bring experience, versatility and another layer of depth to a Toronto forward group that is always under the microscope.
The catch is roster math. Toronto already has a full contract roster, so inviting Smith in on a PTO is the easy part compared with what comes next if the fit is right. Before any deal could become real, the Leafs would have to clear space, and that is where a seemingly straightforward veteran addition can turn into a tougher decision than it first appears. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Prospects Have A Real Chance To Shake Up Camp
The NHL Prospect Showcase on Sept. 12-13 will give a group of Maple Leafs prospects an early chance to separate themselves before training camp opens. For players like Ben Danford and Tinus Luc Koblar, this is more than a tune-up, because the organization will be watching closely to see who looks ready for a longer look and who can start building a case for a depth role.
For a Toronto team that always has a few open questions at camp, these kinds of weekends can matter more than they seem. A strong showing does not guarantee anything, but it can shape who gets extra attention once the real battles begin and help nudge the early depth chart in one direction or another. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Just Closed Off One Offseason Option Fans Wanted
The Maple Leafs have hit the NHLs 50-contract limit, a notable early-fall checkpoint that leaves the organization with no room to simply add another player without first making a corresponding move. As of Sept. 7, Toronto was the only team in the league sitting at that ceiling, and the recent addition of Brendan Brisson helped push the club into that fully booked position.
For a fan base still hoping for one more offseason swing, the timing matters because it likely shuts the door on any straightforward signing, including professional tryouts, unless the Leafs clear space through a trade or another roster move. Trades are still on the table, so the front office is not out of options, but the path to any further additions just got a lot narrower. [Read more 🡒]