The Toronto Maple Leafs are bringing a hometown kid back on a hometown discount.Â
On Sunday afternoon, the Maple Leafs announced that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Mark Giordano on a two-year contract extension carrying an average annual value of $800,000.Â
The deal, which ties Giordano to Toronto through the 2023-24 season, will likely take him into retirement and bears many similarities to the one-year pacts Jason Spezza has signed with his native team over the past three years.Â
To get a top-four defenseman who just logged roughly 20 minutes per night in the playoffs under contract for the next two seasons at a smidge above the league-minimum rate is some terrific value.Â
Giordano fit seamlessly into the Maple Leafs’ lineup after arriving via trade from the Seattle Kraken back in March. In 20 games in the blue and white, Giordano racked up an impressive 12 points while elevating the play of those around him to a considerable degree. The most beneficial member of Giordano’s presence was undoubtedly youngster Timothy Liljegren, who took the biggest steps of his career alongside his veteran defense partner and evolved into a legitimate NHL blueliner that will only get better for years to come.Â
During his end-of-year media availability, Giordano made a point to acknowledge just how much he enjoyed his time in Toronto and how much he believed in the team’s core moving forward. Signing a sweetheart deal when he undoubtedly could’ve gotten far more on the open market only confirms it.Â
The Maple Leafs have made a commitment to running it back. And with today’s deal, they certainly seem intent on seeing that plan through.Â
