Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Pezzetta is enthusiastic that he will be joining the team he grew up cheering for.

After reports emerged on Monday that the Leafs were among the teams interested in signing him, Pezzetta was their first signing of free agent frenzy as he agreed to a two-year deal with an AAV of $788K. While some are not sure what to make of the signing, others are excited about another hometown kid coming home.

Pezzetta made an appearance on TSN Overdrive on Tuesday, where he spoke of how the chance to don the Blue and White was too good to pass up.

“ For me growing up, I’m sure like a lot of kids, Mats Sundin was always my favourite player. I wore number 13 growing up my whole life.  It was just special,” he said. “Sat in my room a bit today – I’m staying at my parents’ house back in Toronto – but I got a picture of my wall of Mats Sundin. I’m sitting there and I’m just thinking, how cool is it that I get the opportunity to work hard and be able to put this jersey on. It’s just such a special feeling and I’m so happy and blessed to be able to be given this opportunity.”

He arrives in Toronto after having spent seven years in the Montreal Canadiens organization, which will give him the unique perspective of being part of both sides of the rivalry between the Leafs and Habs. Pezzetta said he was grateful for the time he spent in La Belle Province, and there will be no bad blood when he plays physically against his former teammates.

“ I loved my time there.  The organization’s first class and the boys were always great,” he said. “ Pretty much grew up there in pro hockey, and have nothing but good things to say about them. Definitely be weird come home opener time and starting the season playing against all those guys and having to try to run them all through the glass, but it’ll be fun and there’s no hard feelings.”

That willingness to play the body and get in heavy on the forecheck is likely a big reason why the Leafs opted to sign Pezzetta. He may have gone scoreless in the previous season, and it’s no doubt a sore spot when assessing whether this is a good fit, but offence has never been his calling card to begin with, and the defensive metrics paint him in a positive light.

If anything, there is a good chance that his hardworking mantra will quickly endear him to the Leafs fans sitting on the fence along with the ones who are already pumped to see him come home.

“Gives us some more depth, and he’s got a skill set in terms of his physicality, good foot speed, able to get in on the forecheck,” GM Brad Treliving said to reporters of the Pezzetta signing. “Excellent teammate. Those are the boxes he checks and happy to have him with us.”

Pezzetta will be entering a different situation from the one he was in with the Canadiens in terms of the level of expectation placed on the hockey club. Montreal was coming out of a rebuild and made a push towards the playoffs in his last season there, while the Leafs are firmly in their contention window, looking to take the next step and finally reach the summit.

Having been in the pressure cooker that Montreal can be, he won’t be fazed by the noise of Toronto. In fact, Pezzetta is excited to embrace the challenge.

“ I think anytime you play for a big market, Toronto, Montreal, there’s expectations that come with that,” he said. “The sort of responsibility that when you put that sweater on and you go on the ice, you have a responsibility to play as hard as you can and give everything you got.  It’s about winning at the end of the day and bringing a Cup back to your city. And I think that’s something I’m ready for and just excited for.”