Toronto Maple Leafs re-sign Pierre Engvall to one year, $2.25 million contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs have re-signed center Pierre Engvall to a one year, $2.25 million extension.

Engvall was in the final year of a two year contract with a $1.25 million cap hit, so he gets a $1 million raise on his new deal. At just one year, this contract will take Engvall to UFA eligibility next season. This deal was announced just five minutes before the NHLPA announced the players who elected for salary arbitration, which many speculated Engvall would join.

In his first full NHL season, Engvall had a strong season at both ends of the ice. The 26-year-old put up 15 goals, 20 assists, and 35 points in 78 games this season, while also playing a bigger role with the Leafs on the third line, that got heavy defensive zone assignments, and on the penalty kill.

There’s room to suggest that those offensive numbers could continue to grow in that role, as he had the second worst on-ice shooting percentage at even strength on the Leafs with 6.56%. He’s proven to be a strong play-driver at both ends of the ice, with a 55.7% shot attempt share and 55.95% expected goal share at even strength this season.

With this signing, the Leafs now find themselves almost $1.5 million over the salary cap, with restricted free agent Rasmus Sandin still left to sign as well. With this deal and the unrestricted free agent signing of Calle Jarnkrok to a four year deal with a $2.1 million cap hit, there shows some commitment to both players for next season, which leaves center Alex Kerfoot as the only other forward on the Leafs outside of the big four that has a cap hit higher than $2 million that could be moved to make room. They may also make a trade on the back end with someone like Justin Holl, with the additions of Victor Mete and Jordie Benn in free agency.