Tyler Toffoli is heading east, signing a four-year free agent contract worth $4.25 million per season with the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms with forward Tyler Toffoli on a four-year contract (until 2023-24). The deal has an average annual value of $4.25 million.
Details to come.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/yrRFqEn4ZY
— Canadiens MontrĂŠal (@CanadiensMTL) October 12, 2020
The 28-year-old winger was traded to the Vancouver Canucks from the Los Angeles Kings in February, and fit in well with his new team on the Canucks’ top line with Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. He scored 44 points, including 24 goals, last season in 68 games split between the Canucks and Kings.
Toffoli is just the latest free agent to leave the Canucks this offseason, as Jacob Markstrom and Chris Tanev signed in Calgary, while Troy Stecher signed in Detroit.
Tyler Toffoli's $17M, four-year contract with the #habs will be paid entirely in salary and doesn't include any trade restrictions.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 12, 2020
While Toffoli’s $4.25 million cap hit was less than expected, the Canucks still couldn’t afford him because they need to add a top four defenceman on the right side to replace Tanev. According to CapFriendly.com, the Canucks have less than $8 million remaining in cap space, but still have three spots to fill, and still have to re-sign restricted free agents Jake Virtanen and Adam Gaudette.
The Canadiens, meanwhile, are now pressed right up against the cap following the signings of Josh Anderson and Joel Edmundson.