For years, the Toronto Maple Leafs management have tried to build their team through the NHL Free Agency period, and it lead to the franchise into one playoff season in the past 12 seasons.
And, yes, that season the team made the playoffs was the dreaded half-season due to the NHL lockout.
The Maple Leafs would sign veterans or mid-aged players who excelled for other teams in specific systems. When they offer the player a contract to sign with them for 3-5 years worth more than $4M, those players don’t live up to their hype.