The Toronto Maple Leafs jumped into the free agent market on Tuesday, signing forward Niklas Hagman to a four-year, $12 million contract, defenceman Jeff Finger to a four-year deal worth $3.5 million a season and goaltender Curtis Joseph to a one-year, $700,000 contract.
Hagman, 28, scored a career high 27 goals and 41 points last season with the Dallas Stars and earned $675,000.
In 481 games, the Finnish winger scored 80 goals and 165 points.
Finger, 28, played 72 games with the Colorado Avalanche last season, tallying 19 points and a plus-12 rating. In 94 career NHL games, he has 24 points and a plus-22.
Joseph, 41, spent four seasons with the Maple Leafs from 1998 to 2002 after arriving as a free agent from Edmonton. In between stints with the Leafs, the veteran netminder played with Detroit, Phoenix and Calgary.
"Curtis will provide outstanding support to Vesa Toskala this season," said interim GM Cliff Fletcher in a statement. "He had tremendous success playing in Toronto in years past and we expect him to be a stabilizing influence for our team, both on and off the ice. We are really excited to have him back in our team's colours."
In nine games with the Flames last season, Joseph went 3-2 with a 2.55 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. The veteran goalie has appeared in 922 NHL games for St. Louis, Edmonton, Toronto, Detroit, Phoenix and Calgary.
Sentinal
Hmmmmmm. Good for Back-up but not starting. I think that was the idea anyways as he is 41. Be nice to see him retire in the blue and white.
Abercrombie
He didn't come back for the hockey...
The Ear
Fail.
That is all.
MarkT
clearly, he is the backup...at a fair price too. fans will eat it up and it's not a bad move from a hockey standpoint too.
ChemEnhanced
cujo is a good signing.....he will play maybe 15 games all season.
I am really impressed with the Finger signing....very solid young defenceman....he is a younger and stronger Gill.
Sentinal
quote:
Originally posted by Abercrombie
He didn't come back for the hockey...
dude. you make me laugh. thats awesome
UneeK
congrats on the signing of a superstar goalie in his prime :haha:
and congrats on the bargain signing of future norris trophy winner in Jeff Finger for $14 MILLION :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: :haha: (hes played in less than a 100 games)
the leafs are gonna be worse than they were last year...and worse the year after....Luke Schenn is your ONLY hope.
Looks like the leafs got fingered...haha.....actually they got FISTED
The Toronto Maple Leafs jumped into the free agent market on Tuesday, signing goaltender Curtis Joseph to a one-year, $700,000 contract.
ChemEnhanced
Joseph is a perfect fit as a back up....the leafs need a cheap back up for a year or so and then bring poggee up.
Finger is a good young defenceman....3.5 mill a year isn't that much for a defenceman....if you want defenceman then you're going to pay the bucks for him. He is being paid at the same level at any other 3rd or 4th defenceman.
gummybear
i think it's a good deal...he's be ok as back up and if it doesn't work..they haven't spent so much that they can't find someone else...plus joseph is a stand up dude..one of my all time favourite leafs...i think it's amazing that he is going to retire a leaf..and probably will stay in the organization for years to come..
smuncky
quote:
Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
Joseph is a perfect fit as a back up....the leafs need a cheap back up for a year or so and then bring poggee up.
Finger is a good young defenceman....3.5 mill a year isn't that much for a defenceman....if you want defenceman then you're going to pay the bucks for him. He is being paid at the same level at any other 3rd or 4th defenceman.
but i think they totally overpaid for him. he got a 700% pay raise. that's just ridiculous for a no name defenseman. it should've been 2 mil tops. and i don't like the long contract either. 4 years? give him 2 and see where he stands. however, at least there aren't any NTC or NMC being handed out.
