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 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 percent. What he has shown to be is a strong play-driver at both ends of the ice, with a 55.7 percent shot attempt share and 55.95 percent expected goal share.
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 signing 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 forward on the Leafs outside of the big four that has a cap hit higher than $2 million. 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.
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