To be sure, Philippe Myers didn’t create a lot of news during the start of free agency, but the Toronto Maple Leafs “only” signed six players from outside the team.
The dramatic addition of former Dallas Stars blueliner Chris Tanev overshadowed the signing of the former defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning. But Myers might end up being the ideal stealth signing.
In a column published on July 16, Jim Parsons of NHL Trade Talk praised the Leafs’ July 1 acquisition of Myers.
It was widely believed that Philippe Myers’ signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs shortly after July 1 was a defensive depth and insurance move. But may Myers be more complex than first appears? Is he capable of leaving a lasting impression on the roster? Parson pondered.
Myers, who is still 27 years old, left Tampa Bay after playing under a one-year contract, and he signed a one-year, $775,000 deal with Toronto.
The blueliner spent time in the American Hockey League and played in just five games for the Lightning in the 2023–24 season. Myers played 61 games for the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, tallying 4 goals and 19 assists for a total of 23 points.
Parsons claims that Myers has a variety of qualities that might make him an exceptional addition to the Maple Leafs. He emphasized his “significant size and physicality,” which is noteworthy.
According to Parsons, Myers’s ability to effectively use his stature can aid in neutralizing opposing forwards and strengthening the defensive core. For the Maple Leafs’ defensive unit, his ability to take advantage of his height in skirmishes in front of the net and along the boards might be a game-changer. He’s massive, and the club would gain a lot from him winning puck battles.
Myers’ stature, which is one of his biggest advantages at 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds, suits the needs Toronto is looking to address in the 2024 summer.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported on June 19 that the Leafs were “looking for big bodies on defense” in advance of free agency. That is consistent with Myers and Tanev’s signing.
Myers’ stature, which is one of his biggest advantages at 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds, suits the needs Toronto is looking to address in the 2024 summer.
The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported on June 19 that the Leafs were “looking for big bodies on defense” in advance of free agency. That is consistent with Myers and Tanev’s signing.
Despite his youth, Myers has a wealth of expertise. In 2017–18, he made his professional debut with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. In the 2018–19 season, he was called up by the Flyers and appeared in 21 games.
Myers has played in 158 NHL games when he gets to Toronto. Throughout his six-year career, he has contributed 28 assists and 8 goals, totaling 36 points while playing for the Flyers, Nashville Predators, and Lightning.
The Maple Leafs’ free agency yielded only a “Grade C” grade, according to Nate Duffett of Clutch Points. “Just because something didn’t work the same the first time doesn’t mean it will work the same the second time for the Maple Leafs. However, the Maple Leafs’ current roster construction looks like their past failures,” Duffett wrote. “It could be completely different this time around with these moves, but if their three signings turn into replicas of Giordano, Klingberg, and Samsonov, it will be an ugly scene in Toronto.”
The Maple Leafs’ biggest free-agent signing was Chris Tanev. They traded for his negotiating rights and signed him to a six-year, $27 million contract on July 1.
Following that signing, according to Spotrac, the Leafs added Jani Hakanpaa, Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Dakota Mermis from outside the organization.
In addition, Toronto re-signed goaltender Matt Murray for a low-cost contract of $875,000 so he could challenge Stolarz for backup responsibilities as Joseph Woll’s understudy.
For Heavy.com, Antonio Losada writes about the NHL. Antonio is a seasoned sportswriter with over ten years of experience covering the NBA, NFL, and soccer. He has written for SB Nation, FanSided, Yahoo Sports, FanGraphs, RotoBaller, and other publications. In addition, he is a nominee for several other FSWA honors, such as DFS Writer of the Year and Fantasy Football Writer of the Year. A bit more about Antonio Losada
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