New Leafs And Their Role – Zack MacEwen

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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 Colton Sissons, Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, 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 in and look at what role they are likely to be tasked at filling under new head coach Jim Hiller next season

Zack MacEwen

The 30-year-old enforcer winger will be playing for his sixth NHL club if he gets to play for the Leafs this season, and that is a probability with the rather physical nature of some of their opposition in the Atlantic Division. MacEwen was signed and made his pro debut in the Vancouver organization in 2017, splitting time between AHL Utica and the Canucks for four seasons.

In 2021, the 6’4”, 226 lb winger was claimed off of waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers, and he played a career-high 75 games in 2021-22, compiling 110 penalty minutes. In 2023, MacEwen was dealt to Los Angeles at the trade deadline. That summer, he signed a three-year deal with the Senators, and once again split time between Ottawa and AHL Belleville. In the final year of his deal, he was swapped to New Jersey for Kurtis MacDermid, but played just three games last season because of a torn ACL injury.

MacEwen signed a two-year, $1.75 million deal with Toronto ($875,000 AAV), likely because a multi-year one-way deal will make it easier for the Leafs to get him through waivers to play for the AHL Marlies. The reason for the signing is simple: the Florida Panthers have assembled a goon squad, and they will likely attempt to intimidate clubs in the Atlantic, as they did with Tampa Bay last season. The Lightning have adopted a similar persona, so when the Leafs travel down to the Sunshine State or if the Floridian clubs come to Scotiabank Arena, you will likely see MacEwen, Michael Pezzetta, or both in the Toronto lineup.