The Toronto Maple Leafs were certainly in the mix for Tanner Jeannot, but after he signed a long-term deal with Boston, there was only one man left for the job: Michael Pezzetta.
While the offseason has been fairly quiet for the Maple Leafs, with only the Mitch Marner and Matias Maccelli trades being anything of note, at least in terms of trades.
Their free agency hasn't been the big splash fans were expecting though with a very thin market and several of the top names re-signing with their respective teams, and only a handful of names switching teams.
Toronto were in on Tanner Jeannot: Elliotte Friedman
Though Toronto wanted to add some much needed toughness to their ranks, they had all eyes on Tanner Jeannot; a gritty, no-nonsense player who won't be afraid to drop the gloves, lay in hit after hit, and be a general nuisance to the opposition.
However, it wasn't too long before he was snatched up by the Bruins on an albeit expensive five-year contract, and while there's hopes he can bring his bruising style of play to a semi-rebuilding Boston side, he's getting paid a lot of money to only add a handful of things.
Toronto was in the mix according to Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts podcast, as well as Ottawa and the New York Rangers:
I heard the competition for Tanner Jeannot was fierce; I heard the Rangers, Ottawa, it fits with Toronto.
With that, the Maple Leafs didn't waste any time and decided to shift gears to Toronto-born Michael Pezzetta instead.
Toronto adds better choice in Michael Pezzetta
Taking him from the rival Montreal Canadiens, he's expected to bring loads of physicality, a passion to do what it takes to win, and is a marked improvement over Ryan Reaves.
It's not the move that fans were hoping for, but there's a lot to like about Pezzetta. Besides his physical nature, he's got some offensive chops (a lot more than Reaves) and is surprisingly a very good defender for someone who is mainly used as a spark on the ice.
Pezzetta, 27, didn't register a point in 23 games with the Canadiens last season, but does have double digit points in the last three seasons including a 15-point campaign in 2022-23.
The one stat that sticks out is his hits (710) in only 200 games; an average of 3.55 a game, and it's something that adds a new dynamic to Toronto.
They have two physical forces on the fourth line with Pezzetta and Steven Lorentz, and both can actually score; a refreshing change from guys like David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok.
Plus, he's really not that expensive, and for a team looking to make a big culture change, adding someone who can do that on the cheap is imperative to a team's success.
While Jeannot certainly would have added a physical force with a veteran instinct, there's something special about Pezzetta.
He's mean, he's motivated and ready to give the Maple Leafs everything he can on and off the ice.
If Toronto was looking for passion, they sure found it in Pezzetta.