It took a long time, but 33-year-old Brad Boyes is finally going to play for the team that drafted him.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have inked him to a one-year, $700,000 deal, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. He’s also earning $833,333 from the Panthers over the next two seasons because they bought out the final campaign of his two-year, $5.25 million deal.
Update: The Maple Leafs have confirmed the Boyes signing, although they didn’t specify the terms.
Boyes, who had been attending the Leafs’ camp on a tryout basis, was originally selected by Toronto with the 24th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. However, Toronto dealt him in 2003 to the San Jose Sharks as part of a package to get Owen Nolan.
He’s gone on to play in 762 games with the Sharks, Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, and the Panthers. At one time he was a major offensive force, but he recorded just 36 and 38 points in each of his last two campaigns with Florida.
Boyes managed to make the Maple Leafs over Devin Setoguchi and Curtis Glencross, who also agreed to PTOs, but were released this afternoon.