The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed center Nazem Kadri to a one-year deal worth $4.1 Million.
The 24-year-old London, Ontario native had 18 goals, 21 assists in 73 games in his fifth NHL season, slightly down from his career-high 50 point season in 2013-14.
Kadri was in the final year of a two-year, $5.8 Million bridge deal and had made indications that he would be looking for a long term extension this summer, but was not in a good position to demand that after a down year and questions that arose after being suspended for three games for disciplinary reasons last March.
Kadri is three years away from qualifying for unrestricted free agency and signing a one year deal gives the Leafs another year of evaluation under new head coach Mike Babcock, while it gives Kadri a chance to put up better numbers that will help make more in salary arbitration next summer or in negotiations for a long-term extension.
Also signed on Sunday was forward Rich Clune. The 28-year-old Toronto native became a free agent last week after being bought out of the final year of his two-year, $1.7 Million contract by the Nashville Predators.
Clune played 62 games for the Predators AHL affiliate in Milwaukee and one game for Nashville last season and agreed to an AHL contract, but will be invited to the Maple Leafs training camp this September.
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The club also announced on Sunday that Gord Dineen will remain with the AHL Toronto Marlies as an associate coach and the hiring of A.J. MacLean joins Sheldon Keefe’s staff as an assistant.
Dineen replaced Steve Spott as head coach last summer and led the Marlies to a Calder Cup playoff berth with a 40-27-0-9 record. The 31-year-old MacLean was an assistant on Keefe's coaching staff with the OHL's Soo Greyhounds.
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