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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Tuesday that they have signed defenseman Nikita Zaitsev to a seven-year contract extension for $31.5 Million ($4.5 Million AAV).
The 25-year-old Moscow native joined the Leafs last May after seven seasons in the KHL and had 36 points (4 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games during the regular season (second only to Jake Gardiner in defensive scoring) and went pointless in four playoff games.
TSN's Bob McKenzie reports that the deal is a flat $4.5 Million for the full seven years, with the first three years consisting of a $3 Million signing bonus and $1.5 Million salary, years four and five have no signing bonus and the final two years have a $2 Million signing bonus and $2.5 Million in salary.
Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reports that the deal has a limited no-trade clause.
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The club also announced the signing of forward Ben Smith to a one-year, $650,000 contract. The 28-year-old had two goals and two assists in 36 games after being claimed off waivers from Colorado last October and was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
This signing has been predicted for months, because Smith gives the Leafs two forwards who qualify for the 70/40 games played requirement for exposure in the expansion draft on June 21. Had Toronto not signed Smith to an extension, they would have had to expose one of Matt Martin or possibly Leo Komarov to meet the qualifications.
The Leafs have a number of young forwards, namely Brendan Leipsic, Kerby Rychel and Josh Leivo who may be vulnerable to being claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights, which could mean that GM Lou Lamoriello will move one of them preemptively to get Vegas GM George McPhee to claim Fehr, who he drafted while GM of the Washington Capitals.
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