Report: Leafs interested in signing Simmonds

The Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in adding unrestricted free-agent forward Wayne Simmonds "at the right price," according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The Buffalo Sabres granted the 32-year-old permission to begin speaking with other teams prior to the beginning of free agency on Oct. 9, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Simmonds signed a one-year, $5-million deal with the New Jersey Devils last offseason and was traded to the Sabres at the February deadline. He recorded eight goals and 25 points in 68 games with the two clubs.

Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas said Monday he's looking to make his club more difficult to play against. The 6-foot-2 Simmonds recorded 145 hits in 2019-20 - a department in which Toronto ranked 29th.

The possible signing would mark a homecoming for Simmonds, who played minor hockey in Scarborough, Ontario.

Dubas has already begun shoring up his forward depth, signing each of Denis Malgin and Jason Spezza to a one-year, $700,000 deal.