In the end, it came down to where David Clarkson and Tyler Bozak wanted to play.

Both, it turns out, wanted to play for the Maple Leafs.

Bozak, maybe because it’s the only team he’s ever known. Clarkson, because it’s the team he grew up idolizing.

“I wore the Leaf jersey as a kid,” said Clarkson, the former New Jersey Devil introduced to the Toronto media on Friday. “It will be pretty special to put it on.

“In our heart, the more we thought about it, being close to home, wearing that jersey when I was young and idolizing some of the guys that played here, meant something to me.”

The happiest man in the room might have been Eric Clarkson, David’s dad.

“Like a dream come true,” said the proud father. “When he first signed with the New Jersey Devils, I was waiting for the day he’d come back here.”

Clarkson might have been the most sought-after free agent forward on the market. The Leafs gave him seven years, $36.75 million (all figures U.S.), a cap hit of $5.25 million. Bozak got five years, $21 million, a cap hit of $4.25 million.

The Leafs also signed defenceman T.J. Brennan to a one-year deal worth $600,000, locked up restricted free agent goalie Jonathan Bernier for two seasons, and re-upped with Frazer McLaren (two years, $1.4 million).

Clarkson, 29, made a name for himself in New Jersey as an undrafted player who worked himself up the NHL food chain. Motivated by people who told him he’d never make it and that he was too soft coming out of junior hockey, he morphed from a role player to a top-six forward capable of scoring 30 goals.

Leaf Nation already has a nickname for him: Wendel Clarkson.

“When I was a kid, I ran around the house wearing a Wendel Clark jersey,” said Clarkson. “I pretended I was him. My dad brought me up a Leaf fan.

“I play a style of hockey where I come out every night and wear my heart on my sleeve. That’s the type of player I am. I try to do different little things, whether it’s scoring, or hitting. The pressure, every game you go on that ice, you need to do well, you need to do something. Every night I’m going to go out there, put the hard hat on and go to work.”

Leaf fans know about Bozak, the two-way centre criticized in some circles for lack of offence, but still deemed by the front office to be a better fit than Mikhail Grabovski, who was bought out by the club.

Leafs GM Dave Nonis said Bozak could have gotten more from another team, but decided to stay.

There was a time, Nonis said, he was worried he might not land either Bozak or Clarkson, even after he bought out Grabovski.

“It made for an uncomfortable sleep,” said Nonis. “We knew when we did it there was a risk we would end up with a lot of cap space and neither one of these players.

“To his credit, Bozak wanted to stay here,” added Nonis. “It comes down to where a player wants to play.”

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The addition of Clarkson and Dave Bolland, a gritty two-way centre acquired in a trade for Chicago, changes the makeup of the forwards with the departures of Grabovski (through the buy-out), Leo Komarov (to the KHL) and Clarke MacArthur, who signed in Ottawa.

“We’re pretty happy with our top nine (forwards),” said Nonis. “I think we’ll be very competitive. Our fourth line will be hard to play against.

“Our coach is happy with the options we have right now.”

The Leafs also said goodbye to Mike Komisarek, who signed in Carolina. Mike Kostka is also not expected back.

Other than Brennan, the Leafs’ blue line remains the same. They missed out on Rob Scuderi, who signed with Pittsburgh.

“Would we look to upgrade? If we can, we will,” said Nonis. “It’s going to be an issue of cap space.”

Nonis had said when the season ended that he wanted to improve his defence. But he put the best face possible on the players he has now, saying he’s comfortable with the current group.

“I think our back-end is good,” said Nonis. “You look around the league, it stands up pretty good.”

Nonis now must turn his attention to re-signing his restricted free agents, notably Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Bernier, Cody Franson and Carl Gunnarsson.

“That might take a little while,” said Nonis.

As for Grabovski, Nonis said he tried to trade the disgruntled centre, but his cap hit ($5.5 million) was too much for teams to take.

“It’s not the player. Lots of teams like Grabovski,” said Nonis. “I’m sure he’s going to get signed. But at $5.5 million with the cap dropping, it made it difficult to move him.”

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