The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenceman Martin Marincin to a two-year, $2.5-million contract, avoiding arbitration.
The deal, which locks up Toronto’s last restricted free agent, pays Marincin $1.2 million in the first year and $1.3 million the next.
The 24-year-old played in 65 games last season, scoring one goal and adding six assists in his first season with the Leafs.
Toronto acquired the Slovakian defender in a trade last off-season from the Edmonton Oilers for prospect Brad Ross and a fourth-round draft pick. His arbitration hearing was scheduled for Tuesday.
Marincin finished the season as arguably the best shutdown defenceman on his team, leading the Leafs in various advanced defensive metrics.
The signing leaves only Colorado’s Tyson Barrie without a contract among arbitration-eligible players. Barrie and the Avalanche had their arbitration hearing on Friday.
The Leafs now have a bit of a logjam on the blue line, with Marincin, Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Nikita Zaitsev, Matt Hunwick, Roman Polak, Frank Corrado and Connor Carrick all expected to compete for a spot on the NHL roster. According to General Fanager, they’re currently projected to have just $55,916 in cap space, though that number will increase once Nathan Horton and Stephane Robidas are put on long-term injured reserve.
The Oilers selected Marincin with the 46th pick of the 2010 NHL Draft. He has two goals and 16 assists in 150 career NHL games.
July 29, 2016
Toronto Maple Leafs
