It doesn’t make sense why the Blackhawks are dressing T.J. Brodie as often as they are. From a development standpoint — as well as from a current play standpoint — Del Mastro and Allan should be riding the waves instead. Story: chicago.suntimes.com/blackhawks/202…
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Checking in on 5 Maple Leafs offseason departures: March update

Photo credit: © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
By Joseph Zita
Mar 4, 2025, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 4, 2025, 10:59 EST
We’re entering the stretch run of the 2024-25 NHL regular season, and with another month coming to an end, it means it is time to check in on five former Toronto Maple Leafs players to see how they did with their new teams this past month.
1. Tyler Bertuzzi – Chicago Blackhawks
Contract: 4-year, $22 million ($5.5M AAV)
February stats: 8 GP – 0 G – 3 A – 3 PTS
Season stats: 61 GP – 17 G – 16 A – 33 PTS
Tyler Bertuzzi has had a strange first year in Chicago, and it’s not unusual, given what Maple Leafs fans saw firsthand last season when he was a member of the organization. Nonetheless, after starting the season slowly with just five goals and ten points through his first 27 games, Bertuzzi scored 12 goals and added six assists for 18 points in his next 22 games. Suddenly, it looked like the Sudbury, Ontario native found his groove after a slow start, similar to what happened in Toronto last season. Unfortunately, after lighting it up in those next 22 games, the new Blackhawk went pointless in his next seven games and picked up just three assists to close out February.
It’s not all on Bertuzzi, however. The Blackhawks have been a disaster this season, specifically since late December, winning just five games during that span (5-16-5) while averaging just 2.84 goals a game and 4.15 against per game.
2. Ilya Samsonov – Vegas Golden Knights
Contract: 1-year, $1.8 million
February stats: 4 GP – 2-2-0 – 3.79 GAA – .810 SV% – 0 SO
Season stats: 24 GP – 14-8-2 – 2.91 GAA – .887 SV% – 1 SO
If you thought Ilya Samsonov’s play couldn’t get worse, it did. After going undefeated in December, going 4-0-0 while posting a .948 save percentage, Samsonov’s numbers have plummeted in the 11 games since January 1st, posting a record of 5-5-1. It was a rough month in January for the 27-year-old, going 3-3-1 with an .880 save percentage, but somehow, things got worse, which may force Bruce Cassidy and his coaching staff to give Adin Hill an extended look in the Golden Knights’ crease down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Despite just starting four games last month, the Magnitogorsk native broke even, going 2-2-0, but it was his numbers that took a hit. A 3.79 goals against average and an .810 save percentage for a contending team is not good enough. In his last start in February, Samsonov allowed five goals on just 22 shots, marking the fifth time he has allowed five or more goals this season.
3. T.J. Brodie – Chicago Blackhawks
Contract: 2-year, $7.5 million ($3.75M AAV)
February stats: 7 GP – 0 G – 0 A – 0 PTS
Season stats: 54 GP – 2 G – 8 A – 10 PTS
T.J. Brodie’s first season in a Chicago Blackhawks uniform hasn’t gone to plan. For a team that wanted to take a positive step forward this season after their off-season additions, they’re in the same boat as they were over the past couple of years – fighting for the number-one overall pick. Brodie was signed to Chicago for his defence, someone who can be a steady veteran presence on the blue line for the Blackhawks, but it just hasn’t worked out for either side. As mentioned over the last couple of monthly check-ins on former Maple Leafs players, if Brodie isn’t playing his best away from the puck and can’t contribute offensively to some degree, he’s not a positive asset to this Blackhawks group.
Through seven games in February, the Chatham, Ontario native went pointless, and his play has Chicago writers and fans starting to wonder if scratching him more often for younger players such as Ethan Del Mastro or Nolan Allan is the way to go.
4. Joel Edmundson – Los Angeles Kings
Contract: 4-year, $15.2 million (3.8M AAV)
February stats: 8 GP – 1 G – 2 A – 3 PTS
Season stats: 55 GP – 5 G – 9 A – 14 PTS
Other than Ilya Samsonov, Joel Edmundson is the only other former Toronto Maple Leaf in this article who will play in the playoffs this season. After inking a massive four-year contract to head out west, the big, physical blue liner has been living up to the contract so far.
Not only does the Brandon, Manitoba native bring a steady presence on the backend in a limited role while also being a tough player to play against because of the physical aspect Edmundson plays with, but the 31-year-old is also having one of his best seasons offensively on a Kings team that ranks outside the top 15 in goals per game.
In eight games last month, Edmundson scored his fifth goal of the season and added two assists for three points, improving his season totals to 14 points in 53 games. Although he’s missed four games, that still puts him on pace to finish the season with 21 points in 78 games, which would set a new career high.
5. Timothy Liljegren – San Jose Sharks
February stats: 5 GP – 0 G – 0 A – 0 PTS
Season stats: 47 GP – 5 G – 5 A – 10 PTS
It continues to be a dreadful season for Timothy Liljegren and the San Jose Sharks, who are currently in last place in the NHL standings as we enter March. Liljegren was dealt out west in October, and the move signalled a fresh start to his NHL career after falling on the depth chart over the years. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone the greatest for the 25-year-old.
Following a two-point month in January, Liljegren followed it up with a goose egg in February, going pointless in all five games he suited up for, while the Sharks went 0-3-2. That said, he got the last laugh in his return to Toronto, with his team defeating the Maple Leafs 3-2 in the shootout.
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