The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed 2015 first rounder Mitch Marner to a three-year, entry-level deal.
The 18-year-old center was selected fourth overall at the NHL Entry Draft in Sunrise, FL last month after finishing second in Ontario Hockey League scoring with 126 points (44 goals, 82 assists) in 63 regular season games for the London Knights. The signing is the second of Toronto’s 2015 draft class to come to terms, as second round pick Travis Dermott agreed to his entry-level deal earlier in the month.
The signing of Marner does not mean that the Thornhill, ON has a realistic chance of making the club and will not count towards the 50 pro contract limit if he is returned to the OHL after training camp.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Marner’s deal includes the top level of performance bonuses available on an entry-level deal, which top picks Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Dylan Strome and Noah Hanifin received in their contracts.
New Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello historically does not believe in giving out these bonuses. 2011 fourth overall pick Adam Larsson received a deal with just the base salary of $925,000.
Friedman indicated that negotiations began prior to Lamoriello being hired and that the Leafs continued to negotiate with the bonus package in place, but that might be something that changes going forward.
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The Toronto Marlies announced the signing of five players to AHL contracts to fill out and bolster their roster and their ECHL affiliate in Orlando.
22-year-old defenseman Zach Bell played five seasons in the Ontario Hockey League, including 40 games for the London Knights in 2013-14. The native of Newfoundland played last season with the ECHL's Ontario Reign.
Forward Erik Bradford played three games and scored a goal for the Marlies at the end of last season after netting 16 goals in 32 games for Owen Sound of the OHL, while 21-year-old Russian winger Nikolai Skladnichenko played 38 games for the KHL's Novokuznetsk Metallurg the last three seasons.
Defenseman Justin Holl was selected in the second round of the 2010 Draft by Chicago out of Minnetonka(Minn) H.S.(the alma mater of Leafs blueliner Jake Gardiner). After four years at the University of Minnesota, the 6'3", 195 lb right-handed defenseman split time between the ECHL's Indy Fuel and the Hawks AHL affiliate in Rockford.
25-year-old Max Nicastro was selected in the third round of the 2008 Draft by Detroit. The 6'3" 225 lb defenseman played three seasons at Boston University before turning pro and played in the AHL and ECHL in the Red Wings organization. Last season, the California native split time between a league in Slovakia and the ECHL's Orlando Solar Bears.
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