The Toronto Maple Leafs have reinforced their toughness by signing left winger Michael Pezzetta to a two-year contract, worth an average annual value of $787,500. The addition of Pezzetta, who stands at 6'1" and weighs 219 pounds, aligns with the team's strategy to enhance physicality, especially as a potential replacement for veteran Ryan Reaves. Despite a lack of scoring (no points in 25 games last season), Pezzetta's 24 penalty minutes demonstrate his willingness to play a gritty role.

At 27 years old, Pezzetta has accumulated 200 NHL games with the Montreal Canadiens, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists throughout his career. His physical play includes an incident in 2022 that led to a two-game suspension for an illegal check against T.J. Oshie. Notably, Pezzetta has faced challenges with injuries and healthy scratches, but his addition is a low-risk move for the Leafs to bolster their lineup.