Every year, there’s one certainty: the Leafs will be involved when the free agent market opens.
They appear to be among the most active teams each year. 2024 was no different, as Toronto signed Anthony Stolarz, Jani Hakanpää, Chris Tanev, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
Less than twenty-four hours before the free agent market opened, the team also decided to extend the contract of Max Domi.
Evidently, the signings continue to be peculiar. First of all, Tanev (34) agreed to a six-year deal (!). By this agreement, he will live to be 40. I am aware that he is a defensive defenseman and that the Leafs are searching for someone just like him, but
Oliver Ekman-Larsson is another, though he is also getting older. Last but not least is six-foot-seven Hakanpää, who seems like a decent little signing (2 years/$3 million). The defenseman from Finland has a risk of never being able to play hockey again.
Steve Simmons stated as much in an article that appeared in the Toronto Sun.
His knee seems to be in bad shape, but doctors have confirmed that he can be signed.
His knee cartilage is getting very thin. In any event, many of the people who have been around Simmons over the past few seasons would be surprised if he were to play again, according to Simmons. He was playing for the Stars for eighteen minutes every game two years ago. He will probably proudly serve on the long-term injured list in 2024.
Although I recognize that the athletes’ doctors approved the athlete to sign a contract, I don’t believe Brad Treliving has done his due diligence. The worst error in this tale was undoubtedly awarding him a two-year contract. He could have at least offered him a one-year contract, right? Simmons said, “In any case, we’ll know more about his health in the fall.”
To put it briefly, the organization—which is thinking of taking away John Tavares’ “C” as well—continues to garner negative press. Instead of acquiring a genuine number-one defenseman, they’re either signing or acquiring elderly defensemen nearing the end of their careers, or they’re signing players to take advantage of the pleasant Robidas Island weather. #Klingberg
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