Maple Leafs Sign Four Free Agents to Contracts

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday that they have signed center Tim Brent to a one-year contract, defenseman Jay Rosehill to a two-year contract, and re-signed right wing Ben Ondrus and left wing Ryan Hamilton to one-year contracts. Terms of all four deals were not disclosed. Brent appeared in two games last season with the Chicago Blackhawks, scoring no points. He also played in 64 games last season with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate in Rockford, scoring 20 goals and 42 assists for 62 points. Rosehill appeared in 70 games last season with the Toronto Marlies and Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, scoring seven goals and eight assists for 15 points and 275 penalty minutes. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Ondrus appeared in 11 games last season for the Maple Leafs, scoring no points. He also played in 57 games last season for the Marlies, scoring 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points and 83 penalty minutes. Hamilton was acquired in January from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Robbie Earl. In 65 games last season with the Marlies and AHL’s Houston Aeros, Hamilton scored 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game.

These are mostly just depth signings for the Maple Leafs. Brent has had a fairly successful career at the AHL level as a top-six forward, but the jury’s still out on whether he can transfer that success to the NHL. Rosehill is a very gritty and physical defenseman, so it comes as no surprise that Maple Leafs’ GM Brian Burke signed him, as Burke has a love for physical players. Rosehill could become a physical, stay-at-home defenseman in the NHL as long as the Maple Leafs give him a chance to prove himself. Ondrus is a very physical forward who will provide the team with plenty of offensive depth on the fourth line. If Hamilton makes the team next season, it will likely be on the fourth line. Otherwise, he will give the Marlies plenty of offensive depth down the wing.