The Toronto Maple Leafs finished 30th in the NHL last season, but the positive aspects of 2015-16 couldn't be measured by standings points. Management was public about being in a rebuild and learning to play the puck-possession style favored by coach Mike Babcock. The Maple Leafs hope to build on those gains this season.
Toronto made some long-term moves to keep players they feel will be part of the next phase of the rebuild. Two restricted free agents, defenseman Morgan Rielly and center Nazem Kadri, were each signed to a six-year contract. The Maple Leafs had the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft and used it to take center Auston Matthews.
Matthews, 19, represents the future of the youth movement. He's regarded by many scouts as a generational talent. The Maple Leafs hope he can develop into the No. 1 center they haven't had since Mats Sundin departed after the 2007-08 season.
They also addressed a need for better goaltending, acquiring Frederik Andersen in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on June 20 and that day signing him to a five-year contract reportedly worth $25 million. Andersen was 22-9-7 with a 2.30 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 43 games last season and shared the William Jennings Trophy (fewest goals allowed by a team) with John Gibson.
In addition, the Maple Leafs signed 24-year-old defenseman Nikita Zaitsev, who spent the past seven seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League. Zaitsev played for Russia at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and had two assists in four games.
The Maple Leafs feel they've addressed their needs without making a big splash in free agency. Their biggest signing was a four-year contract for unrestricted free agent forward Matt Martin, who led the NHL in hits five straight seasons playing for the New York Islanders. Martin should fill the need for more grit up front. Goalie Jhonas Enroth, 28, signed a one-year contract Aug. 22 to provide a veteran backup to Andersen.
