Michael Pezzetta signs two-year, $788K AAV deal with Maple Leafs

Pezzetta failed to register a point in 25 games played with the Canadiens this past year, often sitting out as a healthy scratch when not rounding out Montreal’s fourth line. Through four season played in the NHL, Pezzetta has 15 goals and 38 points in 200 games played.

More important than his goalscoring numbers (or lack thereof), the 6-foot-1, 219 lb. winger is well known for the physicality in his game. Despite only appearing in 25 contests, he had 73 hits last season, leading the team with almost 3 hits per game. The 27-year-old is also a skilled fighter who stands up for his teammates and brings energy to the bench. With Ryan Reaves unlikely to return to the Leafs roster, Pezzetta can fill the gap he’s leaving, especially after the veteran faced criticism for not fighting enough last season.

The move to acquire Pezzetta comes as a bit of a surprise, as he wasn’t really on anyone in Toronto’s radar until yesterday, when LeBrun reported that the Leafs were looking at taking a run at the pending free agent. At the same time, his grit and grind, physical style of play does match what GM Brad Treliving is working on building right now in Toronto. That being said, Pezzetta is untested in the postseason, as he didn’t appear in any games this year in the Habs’ first-round series against the Washington Capitals.

With the acquisition, Pezzetta is the latest former Canadien to join this Leafs roster, joining former team captain Max Pacioretty (who is currently a free agent) and Max Domi.

While this move is a bit of a gamble, it’s a pretty low-risk one for Toronto, considering the small cap hit on Pezzetta’s contract. As they look to become a tougher, deeper team, we’ll see if this move pays off for Treliving and the Leafs come next season.