Maple Leafs: Free Agency Day One

The Maple Leafs then set their sights on filling the vacancies of Ilya Mikheyev and others finding new homes as unrestricted free agents. The first signing was forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel who played last season with the Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche, he signed a one year contract worth $1 million.

The Slave Lake, Alberta native played 74 games last season split between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Colorado Avalanche. The 25-year old winger played 67 games in the regular season with Colorado tallying 11 goals and 11 assists.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel was drafted in the second round 48th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers where he played the last four years before landing in the Rockies with the Colorado Avalanche to end last season. A Stanley Cup champion who will fill an important role for the Maple Leafs in 2022-2023.

Kyle Dubas and company continued to fill the roster as they signed forward Adam Gaudette to a one-year contract with an annual salary of $750,000. The Braintree, Massachusetts native split the 2021-2022 season between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Ottawa Senators, he played in 58 games last season posting 5 goals, and 9 assists for 14 points. 

Adam Gaudette was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 5th round of the  2015 NHL Entry Draft. The 149th overall selection in 2015 four years in Vancouver before joining the Chicago Blackhawks and then eventually landing in Ottawa to finish 2021-2022. The Sox-foot one has played in 218 NHL games posting 27 goals, and 43 assists for 70 points.

Toronto’s front office staff also added some more depth at the goaltender position on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs signed goaltender Dennis Hildeby to a three-year entry level contract worth $843,000. The now 20-year old netminder  is a Jarfalla, Sweden native and was the Maple Leafs 4th round selection at this years draft, the 122nd overall pick played 7 games in the Swedish Hockey League in 2021-2022. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs still have $2.1 million before they hit the salary cap, Toronto will be a team to watch in the coming days as there are plenty of rumors swirling around the hockey circles. Kyle Dubas was busy on the opening day of NHL free agency.

How do you think the first day of the Leafs free agency period went? Let us know in the comments below!

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