Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas spent the off-season tinkering with the supporting cast of his roster after it bowed out of the 2020 playoffs at the hands of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the qualifying round.
With many of his moves, Dubas prioritized experience, toughness, and salary flexibility. He traded Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson to fit under the cap, replacing them with a committee of reclamation projects and breakout candidates. He added Joe Thornton, one of the oldest players in the league, and evoked one of his predecessors by signing the truculent duo of Wayne Simmonds and Zach Bogosian.