Maple Leafs sign defenceman Nick Blankenburg to one-year contract
The 28-year-old defenceman converted his professional tryout into a $1.4 million deal two days before the season opener.
TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenceman Nick Blankenburg to a one-year contract on Sunday.
The deal is worth $1.4 million, according to PuckPedia, converting the 28-year-old's professional tryout into a roster spot two days before the regular season begins.
"Blankenburg is an NHL defenseman," head coach Jim Hiller said, according to Yahoo Sports. "The Leafs were fortunate he was available on a tryout."
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Blankenburg joined the Maple Leafs for training camp on a professional tryout after a career-best season where he posted eight goals and 16 assists over 61 games split between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche.
He also suited up in five playoff contests with Colorado, scoring a goal while averaging 9:24 minutes of ice time.
The Washington, Mich., native has skated in 176 career NHL regular season games with Columbus, Nashville and Colorado, recording 58 points (18 goals, 40 assists).
He was originally signed to an entry-level contract by the Columbus Blue Jackets as an undrafted free agent in April 2022, and played three seasons with the Blue Jackets before signing with Nashville in July 2024.
Blankenburg arrived at camp unsigned after a quiet free-agency period and has spent the last two weeks trying to prove he belongs, according to Yahoo Sports.
He has been a consistent pairing with newly acquired defenceman Emil Andrae, a look the Leafs kept together through the Arizona trip and Saturday's practice at Mullett Arena.
Last season, he averaged 16:48 of ice time per night. He had 21 points in 49 games with Nashville before a March deadline trade to Colorado, then added three points in 12 regular-season games and a goal in five playoff appearances.
He is 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, a right shot who has never been defined by size.
The $1.4 million number, negotiated with agent Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey, is more than the league minimum some fans wanted, but it is still a depth price for a player coming off career-high production, Yahoo Sports reported.
Blankenburg joins a Maple Leafs blue line that also features fellow right-handed shot Troy Stecher and off-season addition Emil Andrae as third-pairing options.
The signing does not come without salary cap work. PuckPedia projects Toronto will be $3.808 million over the $104 million upper limit once Blankenburg's cap hit is on the books.
The club must be compliant when it files an opening roster by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, ahead of Tuesday's season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.
The most direct path to compliance is expected to be long-term injured reserve, with forward Max Domi and his $3.75 million cap hit a candidate for the designation.
PuckPedia's model has the Leafs submitting an opening roster with Domi and William Villeneuve ($68,000 season-opening IR charge) on LTIR and coming within about $10,000 of an optimal LTIR capture.
Toronto is set to open the regular season on Tuesday when the Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens.
With files from CBC News, Sportsnet and Yahoo Sports