Leafs' Sundin agrees to 1-year deal
Mats Sundin agreed yesterday to a $5.5 million, 1-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 36-year-old Swede, Toronto's captain, had 76 points (27 goals, 49 assists) in 75 games with the Leafs last season while earning $7.6 million.
Mats Sundin agreed yesterday to a $5.5 million, 1-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The 36-year-old Swede, Toronto's captain, had 76 points (27 goals, 49 assists) in 75 games with the Leafs last season while earning $7.6 million.
Leafs GM John Ferguson and Sundin's agent J.P. Barry had been in talks for over a month. What originally had begun as a 2-year extension ended up being a 1-year deal that includes a no-trade clause.
"There's some ability there for us to save some money against the cap and use that to surround him with better players, to maximize the available [cap] space and to use it most productively," Ferguson said.
The Leafs were facing a Friday deadline to either exercise or decline a $4.56 million option Sundin had on his old contract.
Sundin has been with the Leafs since the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season.
Noteworthy
* The Detroit Red Wings re-signed 45-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios to a 1-year contract. He said he'll be paid $850,000, same as last season. Chelios has played a key role for Detroit after Jiri Fischer was sidelined with a heart ailment during the 2005-06 season and Niklas Kronwall was injured last season. He is coming off his 23rd NHL season and his record 22nd postseason appearance. In other team news, general manager Ken Holland said Monday night he expects to know soon whether goaltender Dominik Hasek will return for another season or retire. Hasek, 42, said in late May that he needed a few weeks to make a decision.
* Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and general manager Darcy Regier have agreed to new contracts. The deals will be announced later this week, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the Sabres have not yet announced the signings.
* The Boston Bruins and defenseman Andrew Alberts agreed to a multiyear contract extension. Terms were not disclosed.
* Anaheim Ducks left winger Travis Moen and right winger George Parros signed 2-year contract extensions. The deals keep both under contract through the 2008-09 season. Terms were not disclosed. In other team news, Ducks fans set an NHL record by spending an average of $24.70 on team merchandise during Anaheim's Stanley Cup-clinching Game 5 victory. That was up $7.70, or 45 percent, over the previous record of $17 set during Game 5 of the 2002 finals between Detroit and Carolina. *