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Maple Leafs Sign Free Agent TJ Brodie
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman T.J. Brodie on the first day of free agency.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman T.J. Brodie on the first day of free agency.
The club also completed the signing of veteran winger Wayne Simmonds as the market opened on Friday.
“It’s a great team. Close to home, close to family. Definitely excited to see what happens,” Brodie said in a conference call.
“They’re a great team, playing against them this year they’re fast, skilled… It’s a tough team to play against. I just hope to add to that and whether that’s moving the puck, or just in the defensive zone, I’m pretty much up for anything and I hope to contribute and make them better.”
Toronto’s are looking to Simmonds to add more grit up front, while Brodie — a left shot who plays the right side — is expected to go into the side’s No. 1 pairing with Morgan Rielly.
“He’s a great player, he’s similar to [Flames captain Mark Giordano], one of those guys that’s good at everything… I hope if I play with him I make him better,” Brodie said of Simmonds.
The 30-year-old Brodie has signed a four-year deal worth $20 million US after spending his whole career with the Calgary Flames.
Brodie has 48 goals and 266 points in 634 regular-season outings to go along with 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 30 playoff games.
Simmonds, meanwhile, has signed a $1.5 million contract to play in his hometown for a year. He has 251 goals and 499 points in 909 career games with the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.
/Stewart Sports news editor
