Leafs Make Their First Splash, Sign Defenceman Matt Hunwick

Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports

And there it is… about 10 minutes into Free Agency day and the Toronto Maple Leafs are already adding players.

Hunwick, 30, was drafted in the seventh round of the 2004 Draft, and has spent time with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and most recently the New York Rangers. Last season, the 5’11, 190lb blueliner scored 11 points in 55 games.

This is a nice, inexpensive add for the Leafs, but one has to think that another move will follow with such a deep stable of defenders. Toronto now has Dion Phaneuf, Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Roman Polak, Stephane Robidas, Martin Marincin, T.J. Brennan and Tim Erixon under contract, along with Hunwick.

So why was Hunwick an immediate target? Well, I imagine the Leafs’ Analytics Department had something to do with it…