Leafs Roster Boost
Toronto Maple Leafs bolster roster depth by signing veteran forward Colton Sissons to two-year deal
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Key Points
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Last season with Vegas, Colton Sissons posted 6 goals and 5 assists in 66 games, but also piled up 93 hits and 46 blocked shots, finished with 28 PIM, and averaged about 12:30 of ice time per game, underscoring his rugged two-way role.
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In Vegas’ 2025-26 playoffs, Sissons contributed eight playoff points as the Golden Knights advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
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Blueger, Toronto's other two-year addition, had 17 points in 35 games last season with the Vancouver Canucks and has spent the past three seasons with Vancouver.
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Darren Raddysh was reportedly signed by the Maple Leafs in June, adding another depth option as part of their early free-agent activity alongside Sissons and Blueger.
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Sissons is a 32-year-old forward who spent 11 seasons with Nashville; career totals include 101 goals and 131 assists in 756 games (231 points) and 1,131 hits since 2015-16, and he was a 50th overall pick in 2012.
The Toronto Maple Leafs added a rugged veteran presence to their bottom six on July 1, signing forward Colton Sissons to a two-year, $8.5 million contract at $4.25 million per season, according to NHL.com. Sissons, 32, posted 6 goals and 11 points in 66 regular-season games with Vegas last season, then added eight playoff points as the Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final.
The signing is part of a broader offseason overhaul. Toronto also added center Teddy Blueger on a two-year deal at $2.5 million per season, signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky to a three-year, $21 million contract, and acquired defenseman Darren Raddysh in June, per Daily Faceoff. After all the moves, the Leafs have roughly $3.2 million in cap space remaining, according to theScore.
Sissons Brings Muscle and Grit to Toronto's Bottom Six
Sissons is not a scorer. He is a grinder. Last season he piled up 93 hits and 46 blocked shots in 66 games while averaging just 12:30 of ice time per night, per RotoWire. His career totals tell the same story: 101 goals and 1,131 hits across 756 NHL games since 2015-16 — an average of nearly 1.5 hits per game his entire career.
Last Word on Sports noted that Sissons "excels in other aspects of his game" beyond point production, including physical play. Toronto has been criticized in past playoff runs for lacking toughness. The Leafs were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the 2025-26 season, and management moved quickly to add "sandpaper" up front, per the team's research.
Blueger and Bobrovsky Round Out a Win-Now Roster
Teddy Blueger gives Toronto a second veteran bottom-six center. He posted 17 points in just 35 games for Vancouver last season before injury cut his year short, per Sportsnet. Blueger won the Stanley Cup in 2023 and brings a reputation as one of the league's better third-line forwards when healthy.
In goal, Toronto made a bold bet on Sergei Bobrovsky at $7 million per year. Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion. But CBS Sports noted he posted a career-low .877 save percentage last season at age 37. Supporters argue his playoff experience is exactly what a team chasing a championship needs.
Raddysh Signed, Rielly's Future in Toronto Grows Uncertain
In June, the Leafs made a major blueline move. They acquired Darren Raddysh from Tampa Bay in a sign-and-trade, then signed him to an eight-year, $68 million extension, per Hot Take Hockey. Raddysh is a native of Caledon, Ontario, and called joining his hometown team a dream, according to NHL.com.
That move put longtime Leaf Morgan Rielly on the trade market. Pro Hockey Rumors reported that Rielly submitted a four-team list of approved Western Conference destinations. Toronto is also said to be pursuing Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski, who may be seeking a trade. General manager John Chayka appears ready to close the book on the Rielly era in favor of a more defensively sound back end.
A Dressing Room Full of Champions, and a Tight Cap
Toronto's new additions include three Stanley Cup champions: Bobrovsky, Blueger, and Raddysh. The Leafs Nation wrote that the moves "fundamentally change a dressing room often criticized for a lack of killer instinct." The push comes as the Leafs look to maximize their window around star forwards Auston Matthews and William Nylander alongside 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna.
The cost is a nearly locked-up salary cap. After signing Sissons, Blueger, Bobrovsky, Raddysh, and Jack Roslovic (two years, $4 million per season), Toronto has only about $3.2 million left to work with, per theScore. Daily Faceoff noted critics see the Sissons deal as an overpay for a 32-year-old with declining point totals. But the Leafs have clearly decided that winning ugly beats losing pretty.
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