As the Toronto Maple Leafs navigate a pivotal offseason, the spotlight is shining brightly on their efforts to reshape the team’s identity and toughness. With fans growing increasingly vocal about the need for more grit and edge in the bottom half of the roster, management faces mounting pressure to deliver meaningful changes.

The departures and additions so far have signaled a new direction, but questions remain about whether the current lineup truly possesses the bite needed to compete deep into the playoffs.

The search for players who can bring physicality, energy, and a relentless attitude has become a central storyline, especially as Toronto looks to move on from familiar faces and address long-standing concerns about their ability to withstand the rigors of postseason hockey.

With several intriguing names still available and the clock ticking on key roster decisions, the coming weeks could prove decisive in shaping the Maple Leafs’ fortunes for the upcoming season.

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Fans are hoping that the free agent signings for the Maple Leafs involve a bit more toughness and grit as they look to change their DNA and move on from players like David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok.

It’s been a fairly quiet free agency period for the Maple Leafs, having gone after a few depth pieces for the bottom half of the roster and restocking the AHL system after losing a few names to divisional rivals.

They’ve certainly added a lot more toughness and passion down on the bottom half, and with Ryan Reaves traded to San Jose, it shows the team is headed in a different direction, although they could still use some improvements.

Toronto tough, but they need to get meaner

While the team has Scott Laughton to cause issues and Michael Pezzetta was signed to cause some chaos, the team lacks a true game-changer when it comes to adding some bite, and there’s a couple of players who fit that list.

Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf play a fine game, but they aren’t ones who grind away in the corners, rough up opponents and make them think twice about trying anything cute; a role Reaves was supposed to fill.

Which is why it’s not suprising to see fans asking Brad Treliving to add more bite to the bottom half of the lineup, given they lack a true x-factor in that department.

It’s not about looking for a player whose sole responsibility is to fight, that’s a long-gone part of the game. But it’s about those players who won’t back down from tough times, and is willing to push back when the opposition gets rough.

Who Toronto could target to give them the edge they need

There are a few players who fit the bill, though they won’t necessarily jump off the page. There’s Nathan Bastian, Noah Gregor (a former Leaf), and Hudson Fasching; all who are big-bodies, especially Bastian at 6’4.

They would all be super cheap, and offer a lot more overall production than Reaves while giving Toronto the edge they need.

Each man is capable of scoring 5-7 goals a season, all three love to hit (especially Bastian and Gregor), and all under 30; another big positive over Reaves.

Bastian, 27, is a towering force who loves to hit, loves to antagonize, and is a pretty solid penalty killer in a short sample size, plus he’s got a decent shot to boot:

He had 10 points in 59 games (4 goals, 6 assists) for the Devils last season, and added 138 hits in 10:56 TOI.

Gregor, 26, is no stranger to the Leafs, playing for the team in 2023-24. Back then he registered 12 points in 63 games (6 goals, 6 assists) and 147 hits, whilst playing respectable defense.

He signed as a free agent in Ottawa spending a year there before being traded in the Fabian Zetterlund deal.

Fasching, 29, was originally drafted by Los Angles, but traded to Buffalo in the Brayden McNabb trade.

He spent three years there before heading to Arizona and finally settling in Long Island.

Not necessarily as mean as the previous two players, Fasching still adds size, grit, and is essentially a David Kampf replacement, but won’t necessarily hack at his opponents to send a message.

Of the three, Bastian makes the most sense given his size, age, and propensity to lay in crushing hits at a moment’s notice. He won’t cost a lot, and Toronto can gain a ton from him.

Seems like a smart signing to me.