The Toronto Maple Leafs have brought another defender into the fold, this time signing Stanley Cup champion Zach Bogosian to a one-year, $1MM contract.
After adding T.J. Brodie yesterday on a four-year, $20MM contract, the Maple Leafs had changed the makeup of their defense but also pushed themselves over the salary cap ceiling. Today’s move of Andreas Johnsson changed that, meaning they can bring in a little more experience with Bogosian.
The 30-year-old defenseman had quite the rollercoaster 2019-20, going from a contract termination with the Buffalo Sabres in late February to lifting the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in late September. The Sabres were able to terminate the veteran’s contract after he failed to report to the Rochester Americans of the AHL, allowing him to sign a new deal with Tampa Bay for a playoff run.
A playoff run that Bogosian had been searching for his entire career. The third-overall pick in 2008, Bogosian had never played in a single postseason game, missing the playoffs regularly with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets and then Sabres. He managed to carve out a role on a deep Tampa team and averaged almost 18 minutes a game in the playoffs. Of course, that doesn’t include the several scratches he faced in the finals, where he suited up only twice against Dallas.
Even though he does possess good size, standing 6’3″ and weighing over 220-lbs, Bogosian isn’t actually the most physical defender on the ice. He will engage in front of the net and certainly doesn’t shy away from contact, but he was actually known as a puck-mover early in his career and can still contribute a little offensively.
That doesn’t necessarily mean he has a place in Toronto’s top-six right away, however. The Maple Leafs have eight NHL options including unsigned restricted free agent Travis Dermott, KHL import Mikko Lehtonen and top prospect Rasmus Sandin, meaning there may be another move in the coming days to free up a little more space.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
The Pens are losing out of all of the decent cheap right shot third pair defensemen options I wanted.
This makes me think they are still talking to Vegas about MAF. Especially since, Alex P. is touring Vegas and moving Marc is necessary if they are going to sign him.
A move by Dubas that might actually help them, for once.
Pens not getting Flower.
His possible landing spots are shrinking and they are/were definitely in on him. I think they might.
If they weren’t, they could have beat any of these offers today, Stecher, Bogosian, TVR, for a position they have acknowledged they still need to fill (#6 D man). And Jimmy doesn’t usually wait when he doesn’t have to.
Why when they have Desmith?
I’m not a DeSmith fan. He’s not awful, but small and very average. If Jarry gets hurt, our tandem is DeSmith and Maxime Lagace. No thank you. Can’t risk Sid and Geno’s last best chance on that.
If we got Marc at half his salary, we’d have one of the best tandems in the league for $7 million. Just a bit more than Murray is now getting from Ottawa.
Were it to happen, I’d think DeSmith would go to Vegas to be Lehner’s backup.
Most of the teams reported to be in on MAF have filled their needs. Carolina is only one left that I know of, since I never heard BUF mentioned. He’s getting traded somewhere.
I hope you’re right. But I don’t think they can afford him. Don’t think Vegas will retain half of his salary. And the Pens still need a third pairing Right defenseman.
The Leafs have signed d men 2 days in a row? I must be having a stroke lol.
Solid move, him & Brodie will be an upgrade for sure
Muzzin and Bogosian paired up will be a total change compared to what was thrown out in the playoffs this year. This move will change the attitude of this team on the ice. Good move by Dubas here.
How is Toronto able to pay these guys, aren’t they in cap hell?
@dugdog83 – Right now, CapFriendly shows them with about $1.3MM in cap space, so you are correct there. They still have Dermott and Mikheyev to deal with, too. Mikheyev is RFA w/arb, and has filed.
I believe before the season starts, they can move Rosen and Liljegren to the minors and get an additional 1.5 million in cap space. They can be 10% over the limit but must be compliant before the season starts
Another trade coming soon I’m sure…
I’ve never seen a club develop/sign/acquire
so many 5,6,7,8’s spot defensemen and pass them off as 2’s and 3’s.
Stop with the “how do we make it fit” and for once try “why do we want it to fit.”
@Dave – It just occurred to me: maybe KD is trying to make square numbers fit into round holes. “Don’t worry, we can coach him up into being a top-pair guy here!” Kinda like thinking they have a blue line version of Mitch Korn, Ian Clark, or one of the Allaire brothers. ;)
BOGO will fill the 6/7 role so it’s not a bad acquire. I think relying on him for top 4 or even to play 70 games would be insanity.