TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed center Mikhail Grabovski to a $27.5-million, five-year contract extension.
The 28-year-old Belarusian was due to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He’s making $3.1 million this season.
The deal comes shortly after Leafs general manager Brian Burke elected not to deal Grabovski at the trade deadline. Grabovski has 20 goals and 25 assists in 59 games this season.
Burke calls Grabovski’s speed and skill “valuable commodities.”
It bumped Grabovski $100,000 ahead of Leafs winger Phil Kessel in annual salary.
