On a wild first day of free agency that saw $316 million spent in the opening 47 minutes, the Toronto Maple Leafs waited nearly three hours to make a move.

Joining the Anaheim Ducks at mid-afternoon as the only teams without a transaction, Toronto eventually jumped into the market, inking forward Matt Martin to a four-year, $10 million deal.

It was a sizeable pact to offer Martin, 27, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound left wing who led the league in hits last season with 363 (averaging 4.6 per game). Drafted in the fifth round by the New York Islanders in 2008, Martin played on the so-called “best fourth line in hockey” last season, with Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas. It’s the bruising physicality Martin used so well there that enticed the Maple Leafs.

“Certainly his size is a strength and his skating is very good,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “I’ve had the good experience to play against him for a good number of years where I came from [in New Jersey] so I’ve seen him over a period of time. [He’s] certainly a support to allow [our young players] to feel freer to do the things that they do best as far as how they play.

“I don’t see many contracts that were signed that were not too much money. I’ve said this year in and year out, but when you feel there’s a need and there’s a short supply and you can get, in your mind, the best player available, then you have to make that decision.”

At the end of last season, head coach Mike Babcock asserted his team needed more toughness. With emerging prospects like Auston Matthews in the fold, it’s even more of a priority now.

Martin’s career-high numbers came in 2015-16 when he tallied 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) and added 119 penalty minutes. It was the first time he’d scored more than eight goals in a season. His 11 fighting majors last season were more than the entire Maple Leafs roster combined (10), yet Martin insists he’s not one-dimensional.

“I want to go out there and be effective,” Martin said. “In talking to [the Leafs], I think I can play the game, not just going out there to fight. Obviously [physicality] is a big part of my game. I’m not someone who really likes liberties being taken on my teammates and my friends. So I think I’m there to obviously free up space and be there to help the young guys and open up room for them, but my only role isn’t to go out there and drop the gloves. I want to bring more to the team and be a regular player and contribute offensively and do all the other things that round out my game.”

More durable than most heavy hitters, Martin has missed just nine games over the last three seasons. He also saw his ice time decline during that stretch, going from an average of 11:54 a game from 2012-14 to 10:33 in 2015-16.

He cites a commitment to making the right decisions on and off the ice for his good run of health and hopes to set an example for the Maple Leafs’ young talents. The native of Windsor, Ont., said the team’s head coach has had already had an influence.

“It really factored into my decision,” he said of playing for Babcock. “He’s appealing as a coach. He’s been so successful throughout the years with the Red Wings. I’ve watched players emerge under his style. Leo Komarov had a big year [last season]. It’s appealing to me in that sense. Hopefully he’s someone who can bring your game to another level and I think that’s something we all want as players.”

It’s unclear what Toronto plans to do next after acquiring just one player on the first day of free agency. Defence remains an obvious need, and veterans Kris Russell, Jason Demers and James Wisniewski were still on the market by early evening.

At the moment, the Maple Leafs appear to be taking a wait-and-see approach.

“I don’t think we’re targeting anything right now,” Lamoriello said. “If there was something that came available, [that’s one thing]. If nothing transpires, we feel very good.”