Leafs Additions And Their Role

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Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka made a major reshuffle of his roster, starting with the trade of Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to Philadelphia last month. The club added defenseman Emil Andrae and began restocking the shelves with the signings of forwards Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons, Brandon Duhaime, and Zach MacEwen, and trading Dennis Hildeby to Tampa Bay for Nick Paul.

Over the next week, we will look at the players Chayka brought and look at what role they are likely to be tasked at filling under new head coach Jim Hiller next season

Colton Sissons

The 32-year-old forward was a 2012 second-round pick of the Nashville Predators out of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. After spending another season in junior, Sissons made the jump to the pros and split time between AHL Milwaukee and the Preds. After a full season with the Admirals in 2014-15, he again split time between Nashville and their affiliate, but was a full-timer for good in 2016-17, when the Predators made the Stanley Cup Final.

Over 11 seasons in Music City, Sissons scored in double figures three times and settled into mostly a bottom-six center role. Preds GM David Poile valued him as an integral part of the club’s depth, and in 2019 signed him coming out of a three-year bridge deal to a seven-year, $20 million contract ($2.857 million AAV).

Last summer, going into the final year of his deal, GM Barry Trotz shipped Sissons to the Vegas Golden Knights along with defenseman Jeremy Lauzon for Nic Hague. With Vegas, the veteran played mostly fourth-line center, scoring six goals in 66 games, and eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) in 22 playoff games.

Sissons is excellent on face-offs (56.5% last season), is a good skater, was utilized on the penalty kill, and is a right shot, something that was in low quantity on the Leafs roster. As well as playing center, the veteran can shift to the wing, and versatility seemed to be a high priority for Chayka. Based on the other additions made, it appears that he is being slotted as the club’s fourth-line center to start the season.