Leafs sign former Flames defenceman TJ Brodie in free agency

Oct 9 2020, 10:53 pm

TJ Brodie has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency, inking a four-year deal worth $5 million per season.

The move is a homecoming of sorts for the Chatham, Ontario, native following 10 years as a member of the Calgary Flames.

The 30-year-old defenceman shoots left, but is comfortable playing the right side, which is where the Leafs need the most help on their blue line, as Tyson Barrie is expected to leave in free agency.

He may not be the high-priced defenceman that Leafs fans were hoping for today — Alex Pietrangelo has been talked about for weeks — but Brodie is a legitimate top-four defenceman, averaging 20:27 per game last season. The question will be how Brodie ages in the years ahead, given he’ll be 33 years old at the end of the deal.

Brodie had a down year offensively, scoring just 19 points in 64 games. Prior to last season, Brodie had scored more than 30 points in six consecutive seasons, including a career-high 45 points in 2015-16.

Brodie is the second significant acquisition by the Leafs in free agency, as they signed winger Wayne Simmonds earlier in the day. The Flames made a big splash earlier by inking the top free agent goalie available, Jacob Markstrom.

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