Why Zack MacEwen Is the Maple Leafs' Best Contract

Sometimes the most useful players on a hockey team aren't the ones who arrive with big contracts or plenty of attention. They're the guys who quietly go about their business and gradually make you wonder how the team got so much for so little.

Zack MacEwen is starting to look like one of those players for the Toronto Maple Leafs. When John Chayka signed him to a two-year contract worth $875,000 per season, he didn’t expect him to become an offensive contributor. He was supposed to bring some toughness, work hard, and give the fourth line a little more bite. Nothing wrong with that. But MacEwen is beginning to offer something more.

MacEwen Is Giving Toronto More Than It Bargained For.

Through his first 10 games, MacEwen has collected two goals and four points. Those aren't numbers that will have anyone confusing him with Auston Matthews, but that's not really the point. He's bringing speed, energy, physical play, and a willingness to get involved. He's also helping make Toronto's fourth line one of the more dependable parts of Jim Hiller's lineup.

And there's something worth noticing here. The fourth line has arguably been Toronto's best in years. That's not a small thing. When a team's bottom six can contribute rather than simply survive their shifts, it gives the coaching staff more options and takes some pressure off the top players.

Sometimes the Best Signings Are the Ones Nobody Talks About.

I think there's a lesson here for Maple Leafs fans. We spend a lot of time discussing the big acquisitions, the top-six forwards, and the players expected to carry the team. Fair enough. Those players matter. But a successful hockey team needs more than its stars to pull their weight.

MacEwen is a good reminder that roster improvements sometimes come in rather ordinary packages. A player doesn't have to score 20 goals to make a difference. He simply has to fill a need and do it consistently. Will MacEwen hold onto his spot when Toronto gets healthier? That's a question for another day. For now, he's earning his ice time and making his modest contract look like a great deal.

The Maple Leafs still have plenty of work to do if they're going to become a playoff team. But finding an effective fourth line is one encouraging development. And MacEwen deserves some credit for helping make it happen.