Maple Leafs double down on toughness by signing a fighter who fits Craig Berube's group in Landon Sim

Toronto announced Tuesday that Sim signed a two-year entry-level contract starting in 2026-27. He is 21 and had already been brought in on an AHL deal earlier in 2026.

That matters because this doesn't read like a vanity signing or a camp body. It reads like another swing at a harder, heavier roster identity.

Sim's appeal is easy to spot. He plays with bite, finishes checks, gets under skin, and doesn't back off once a sequence turns nasty.

That's been a clear thread in how the Maple Leafs have tried to reshape the feel of their lineup.

Less east-west flash in the margins, more straight-line pressure and pushback.

Berube's teams have never been built around pretty alone.

They lean on forecheck pressure, direct routes, and players who can stay involved when a game gets thick.

Sim may not walk straight into the top six, but that misses the point. The Maple Leafs are stacking players who can change the temperature of a bench and tilt the emotional side of a game.

That type of player matters over a long season. Back-to-backs, road trips, and ugly divisional games expose soft spots fast, especially in the bottom six.

Toronto's front office, led by Brad Treliving, keeps showing the same instinct. Add more compete, add more bite, and stop relying on skill alone when the ice shrinks.

The clip making the rounds tells the story in one burst. Sim drives through contact, stays square after the hit, and looks completely at home once the scrum starts.

That doesn't guarantee NHL minutes next season. But it does show why Toronto saw something worth locking in before camp battles even open.

For a team still searching for a cleaner playoff identity, this is the kind of bet that fits the room Berube wants. Landon Sim brings sandpaper, and the Maple Leafs look more and more committed to making that part of who they are.