Two new signings could reflect savvy Toronto business strategy
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been spot-on in terms of offseason additions this summer, adding coveted coach Mike Babcock and long-time Devils GM Lou Lamoriello to their staff. They also dealt Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins, a move which was seen as addition by subtraction in terms of clubhouse chemistry for the Leafs.
But some of their more unheralded moves might reflect a clever business strategy that tends to fly more under the radar, TSN explained.
According to the Canadian outlet, the deft moves began last summer, when the Leafs signed Daniel Winnik to an affordable $1.3 million, one-year deal with the hope that his reliable play and promising metrics would prove he was a more valuable player than the straight scoring statistics claimed. Winnik proved the Leafs right during the 2014-15 season, as he posted 25 points in 58 games with Toronto. This made him great trade bait, and the Leafs were able to flip him to Pittsburgh for two 2016 draft picks. Then, since Winnik's deal expired at the end of the season, he chose to re-sign with the Maple Leafs as a free agent this summer.
"To recap: the Leafs signed a good player at a cheap cost, traded him for draft picks to acquire more talent down the road, then re-signed the player as soon as he hit free agency," TSN reported. "This is true business acumen. The Leafs strategy with Winnik was rather clear the minute they signed him in the summer of 2014. And, though him bouncing back wasn’t a guarantee, the probability of it occurring was more favourable than not."
This summer, TSN claimed the Leafs are at it again considering the way they signed two more undervalued forwards -- Shawn Matthias and P.A. Parenteau -- to one-year deals. Matthias produced a career-high 18 goals for the Canucks last season, but he does not usually play in as many games as he did last season with the Canucks and therefore usually posts closer to half of his goal total from last season. But since the Leafs are in a rebuild, there is a definite chance that he could see decent enough time with Toronto to pad his scoring resume and create a great midseason trade option.
Parenteau is another player who has not seen much ice time in the past, but his metrics show his teams have done better with him on the ice than off of it, which is indicative of a talented player who can make great plays happen.
Both signings are low-risk deals, but TSN believes they should work out well for the Leafs.
"I feel rather confident that at least one of those two players will exceed contractual expectations and net something for this rebuilding team at the deadline," TSN's Travis Yost wrote. "Should both play well, the Leafs – to very little risk of their own – connect on three of three sensible gambles, and could end up acquiring five or six ‘additional’ draft picks."
If Yost is correct, this could be a pretty good move for the Leafs, and both Matthias and Parenteau will create an interesting element to watch throughout the coming season.
(h/t TSN)
