The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Leafs sign Stephane Robidas

By Steve Dangle
Jul 1, 2014, 14:23 EDTUpdated:
The Toronto Maple Leafs, looking for some experience, just signed 37-year-old defenceman Stephane Robidas for three years at $3 million per year.
THE GOOD
The Leafs get a few things they want in Robidas. The get a defenceman. They get an older guy with experience (885 career NHL games). They get a right-handed shot on the back-end. Toronto went through the vast majority of last season with Cody Franson as the team’s only right-handed shot on defence. Now they have Franson, Roman Polak, and Stephane Robidas.
At $3 million per season, Robidas would have to be some kind of awful to be considered a boat anchor on the Leafs’ cap. Despite his age, Robidas’ possession stats have actually pretty decent. He’s not an offensive juggernaut but he can certainly put up some points (251 career).
THE BAD
He’s a 37-year-old who suffered two broken legs last season. Now, I’m not ready to give him the dreaded “injury prone” tag. I don’t think that’s fair. A guy with a bad back, wonky groin, or busted knees is injury prone. This poor guy broke bones which, as you can see from this video, takes quite a bit of torque.
Let’s assume Robidas comes back fully healthy, happy, and ready to play. He’s still signed to a 35+ contract. This means…
RECAP
The Leafs got a lot of things that they got in one player, for fairly cheap, but with some risk. What do you think?
Recent articles from Steve Dangle
Breaking News
- Bruce Boudreau says Leafs’ aging defence could keep them out of the playoffs: Leafs Morning Take
- Toronto Marlies name Chris Bourque as assistant general manager, round out coaching staff
- Revisiting Sergei Bobrovsky’s Save of the Century vs. Lightning
- 2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer on advice for Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna: ‘Just enjoy it’
- How the Atlantic Division shapes up entering 2026-27 after free agency

