Excited Martin sees Leafs heading in right direction

Matt Martin, the Toronto Maple Leafs lone signing from the first day of free agency, is excited to begin the next chapter of his career.

The bulldozing winger said Toronto's management team is part of what drew him to the team.

"I was able to talk to Lou and Mike on the phone and kind of get a good feel for the direction they're heading," Martin told Dean Blundell of Sportsnet 590 The Fan, transcribed by Chris Nichols of Today's Slapshot. "The management and coaching staff is arguably the best in the league. I'm just excited for the opportunity to play under those guys."

Martin is coming off two-consecutive playoff appearances with the New York Islanders, and although his new team finished 30th in the league, he doesn't think it will take long for Toronto to climb up the ranks.

"I think they're going in the right direction. They're a young team that just got a very good player in Auston Matthews and going through a bit of a rebuild, but with Lou Lamoriello, Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock, I can't see that rebuild going too long. I think it's going to be a quick turnaround. They have a lot of great people. A lot of brains behind the bench and the management, and I can't see the Leafs struggling for long."