Mitch Marner used rather vivid imagery to describe what the Toronto Maple Leafs' new forward additions - Ryan Reaves, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Max Domi - will bring to the lineup.
"All three of those guys can play with snot, piss, and vinegar," Marner said Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, before praising new general manager Brad Treliving for the signings.
"So, I think he's done a good job of what he said that he wants to bring in - and he's done it ... (They're) three guys that aren't afraid to get in people's faces and down and dirty, and at the same time bring a lot of pace to our game, can do a lot of things around the net, (and) add a lot of different qualities to your team.
"And they all have that grittiness. Obviously, what Ryan does, it's going to make people not really want to get down and dirty too much with our team."
Treliving inked Reaves to a three-year deal worth $1.35 million annually on July 1, in addition to signing veteran defenseman John Klingberg to a one-year, $4.15-million pact. The next day, the Toronto GM landed Bertuzzi and Domi on one-year contracts worth $5.5 million and $3 million, respectively.
The Maple Leafs also added some depth up front by bringing in Dylan Gambrell on a one-year agreement for the league minimum ($775,000) on July 3.
Toronto ranked 23rd in hits this past season. However, that was partly because the club ranked ninth in goals per game, 12th in shots per contest, boasted the NHL's second-best power play, and sat seventh in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Bertuzzi had a history of contributing offensively before a wrist injury limited him to 50 games with the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins in 2022-23. He racked up 30 goals and 32 assists over only 68 contests with the Wings in 2021-22 and produced consecutive 21-goal seasons earlier in his career.
