The Leafs signed free agent Philippe Dupuis on Wednesday afternoon, giving the former Colorado Avalanche centre a one-year, two-way deal for $650,000 in the NHL and $250,000 in the minors.
Dupuis, 26, is expected to compete for Toronto's fourth-line centre role after Tim Brent signed with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 1.
The former fourth-round pick played his first full NHL season last year in Colorado, scoring six times and adding 17 points in 74 games.
A scoring star in junior, Dupuis has evolved into a checker at the pro level, averaging only nine minutes a game in ice time with the Avs.
"He plays well defensively, he's physical, he's a good penalty killer," Dupuis' agent Normand Dupont said. "He's got upside offensively, too.
"There's a spot for him available and he's the one who's going to have to take it. He's ready to do that. He's going to have to battle like he did last year in Colorado."
Dupuis' signing comes a day after the Leafs re-signed restricted free agents Clarke MacArthur and Tyler Bozak on two-year deals.