The Toronto Maple Leafs signed forward Brad Boyes to a one-year, $700,000 deal on Sunday.
Don Cherry, always a proponent of signing local players, gave the deal his official stamp of approval by sending out a series of tweets on Monday morning.
The homecoming for Mississauga-born Boyes, who grew up a Leafs fan, has been a long time coming. The 33-year-old was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs but never played with his hometown team. Boyes played one game for the San Jose Sharks in 2003-04 and has since suited up for the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Florida Panthers.
LISTEN: Brad Boyes on Brady & Walker
Boyes was bought out by the Panthers this off-season with just one year left on his contract, despite being one of the team’s more productive players over the past two years (35 goals, 74 points in 154 games).
Cherry has been a strong advocate for Boyes since the Leafs signed him to a PTO earlier this month.
In addition to tweeting about Boyes, the longtime coach and face of Hockey Night In Canada’s Coach’s Corner also voiced his opinion about the Leafs cutting veterans Devin Setoguchi and Curtis Glencross.
