He’s fiercely competitive in the riskiest areas.

That spring, Montreal stunned Toronto in seven games after falling behind 3-1 in the series, with a blue-line corps led by Edmundson being one of the main contributors to the nastiness surrounding the Canadiens’ crease.

The seasoned blueliner, who was acquired by the Leafs before the NHL trade deadline this year, hopes to provide a comparable bite.

After his first session in Toronto, Edmundson described the 2021 matchup as a “hell of a series.” “Either way could have worked out.”

One of the six remaining players from the squad that missed three opportunities to shut out the Canadiens, star center Auston Matthews, recalls the six-foot-five, 221-pound Edmundson.

Regarding the St. Louis-based Stanley Cup winner from 2019, he remarked, “hefty stick, hefty lumber there in front.” “Hardens it for you.”

The Brandon, Minnesota, native was acquired on Thursday from Washington for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a third-round selection in the June NHL draft.

When former general manager Kyle Dubas, who was fired in May despite the Leafs making it to the postseason for the first time since 2004, moved a ton of trade chips into the middle, Toronto made a major splash ahead of last year’s deadline.

In his first season as head coach, Brad Treliving was more methodical in acquiring Edmundson, teammate Ilya Lyubushkin, and center Connor Dewar because there was little salary cap room and few choices and prospects available.

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The Leafs Less than an hour after the Friday trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET, the general manager announced that any answers regarding the roster would need to originate from within the confines of the locker room.

Ryan Reaves, a winger for Toronto, said, “The cap situation is the cap situation.” “The folks in here are capable of finishing it.”

Top-line winger Mitch Marner is “unlikely” to play on Thursday due to a lower-body ailment that kept him out of action on Saturday, according to Keefe, who also stated that certain players can breathe easier now that the deadline is behind them.

For example, defenseman Timothy Liljegren of the Leafs, who was buried in the lineup the previous two seasons, was in the starting lineup with Edmundson for Saturday’s win in Montreal.

The deadline means various things to different people, Keefe stated.  A lot of guys could be immediately impacted whenever a player enters or exits the game.

It has an effect.

Toronto, on the other hand, is counting on the steady, home-based Edmundson to make an impact both now and when the post-season schedule is announced.

Regarding how his game translates in the spring, the 30-year-old remarked, “The refs let more slide. I perform at my best during the playoffs.”

Regarding those cross-checks in the slot, Reaves continued, “He makes life a nightmare for guys. You will bear the consequences.”

Have any Leafs discussed the devastating series from 2021, at least from their point of view?

Not quite, Edmundson replied. Still, I’m waiting for it.