Leafs sign Simmonds to 1-year, $1.5M deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Wayne Simmonds to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, the team announced Friday.

"The talent level on the Leafs is unbelievable," Simmonds said, according to The Athletic's James Mirtle. "I hope to complement what the Leafs already have in place. To be a piece of the puzzle and hopefully bring a championship to Toronto."

Simmonds, 32, tallied eight goals and 25 points through 68 games between the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres last season.

Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas recently said he wanted to make the club harder to play against. Simmonds' 145 hits in 2019-20 would have led Toronto.

The signing marks a homecoming for the Toronto native, who played minor hockey in Scarborough, Ontario.

The Maple Leafs currently have $3.9 million in projected cap space with a roster of 20, per CapFriendly.