Maple Leafs Sign TJ Brodie

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed LHD TJ Brodie. Brodie collected 19 points for the Calgary Flames last season and goes to Toronto after the team tried to acquire him before last season, however, Nazem Kadri axed that deal with his no-trade clause. Kadri can't do anything about it now. 

TJ Brodie to TOR

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 9, 2020

The Maple Leafs bring in Brodie who can step into the top-4 defense and provide some stability.  Last season was a down year for Brodie and the Leafs hope he can bounce back to the 40-point a year player he's capable of being.

Brodie gives the team an option to play with Morgan Rielly and also would now make Travis Dermott available via trade. Dermott is a restricted free-agent and it hasn't been determined yet how close the Leafs are to bringing him back.

TJ Brodie signs 4 years $5 million AAV with Toronto Maple Leafs.

— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) October 9, 2020

One thing this signing could do is take the Leafs out of the Alex Pietrangelo sweepstakes. If they don't pull off a trade and soon, the team won't have enough cap space to strike a deal with the St Louis Blues captain.

For now, Brodie is a now Leaf and the team has signed Wayne Simmonds along with Brodie, making day one of free agency a success.

Photo credit: Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire