The Toronto Maple Leafs have made their first free-agent signing.
The Maple Leafs and forward Michael Pezzetta have agreed to a two-year contract with an annual average value of $787,500.
The 27-year-old played just 25 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season, not registering a single point. In 61 games the year prior with Montreal, Pezzetta scored three goals and nine assists. He’s played 200 career NHL games over four seasons, tallying 15 goals, 23 assists, and 241 penalty minutes in that span.
Pezzetta, born in Toronto, Ontario, will join the Maple Leafs in a depth role, replacing Alex Steeves and Nick Abruzzese (both Group 6 UFAs), who signed with other clubs, plus unrestricted free agent Alex Nylander, who signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with Toronto in mid-November.
'Leaving Isn't Easy': Mitch Marner Pens Goodbye Message To Maple Leafs Fans After Joining Golden Knights
Mitch Marner has officially departed the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs have had a busy last 24 hours, moving a conditional third-round pick to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for Matias Maccelli. Toronto general manager Brad Treliving also locked up Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz to long-term deals.
Knies' deal came in at six years with a $7.75 million AAV, and Lorentz's contract has a $1.35 million AAV. They also sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade and acquired Nicolas Roy, who has two more years at a $3 million AAV.
'I Would Love To Play My Whole Career Here': Inside Steven Lorentz's Three-Year Extension With The Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is staying at home.
According to PuckPedia, the Maple Leafs have $4.98 million in cap space after the two-year signing of Pezzetta. After losing Pontus Holmberg, Abruzzese, and Alex Steeves to free agency, the Maple Leafs have re-signed Dakota Mermis and signed Benoit-Olivier Groulx to two-year deals with an $812,500 AAV. They also added Travis Boyd on a one-year, $775,000 contract.
More to come...
(Top photo of Pezzetta: David Kirouac / Imagn Images)