Busy Leafs Sign Denver's Tyler Bozak

Toronto Maple Leafs grand poobah Brian Burke is not wasting time. He hopes it doesn't end up looking like he's wasting money.

Earlier this week, Burke signed Notre Dame star Christian Hanson, who is likely to make his NHL debut Friday at Philadelphia. He's back at it, this time grabbing a player regarded as the top underclassman free agent in college hockey. University of Denver sophomore Tyler Bozak missed a good chunk of the 2008-2009 season with a bad knee, but he had already established himself as a hot commodity on the open market. When the Pioneers' season ended last week, the calls started coming in.

Both Sportsnet and the Toronto Star's Damien Cox are reporting that Bozak will sign with the Maple Leafs. The 23-year-old had a goal and an assist in Denver's 4-2 loss to Miami in the NCAA Tournament last week, and he posted 23 points in just 18 games this season.

Cox mentions that Bozak and Hanson will help bring some life to the Leafs' prospect base, which is pretty thin right now. He also points out that Burke is in the running to sign Boston University defenseman and Hobey Hat Trick finalist Matt Gilroy once BU is done playing in the Frozen Four.

While it's never a good thing for your team to stink like the Maple Leafs have recently, Cox says there is a benefit when it comes to pursuing free agents.

Quite clearly, these free agents are looking at the Leafs and seeing opportunity for immediate NHL work based on the club's lack of depth at every position. This week, in a way, has turned into the draft before the draft for the Leafs, who desperately need to add prospects to their bare talent cupboard.

No word on when or where Bozak will play. The Leafs might be wise to hold off on throwing him to the wolves, because while he did have a two-point game in the NCAA Tournament, he also looked very sluggish at times. Let him get to 100 percent before rushing him back out on the ice.