After adding 22-year-old Connor Carrick to the prospect pool following a trade with Washington prior to the deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs have signed the offensive defenseman to a two-year deal.
As per General Fanager, the deal comes with an average annual value of $750,000 -- with $650,000 in salary for the upcoming season.
Originally a fifth-round pick of the Capitals in 2012, Carrick was part of a deal that sent Daniel Winnik to Washington for Brooks Laich. He spent time with the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the Capitals before the trade, and then split time between the Toronto Marlies in the minors and the Maple Leafs.
He ended up playing 16 games for the Maple Leafs, with two goals and four points, to go with strong puck possession numbers in just under 270 minutes at five-on-five. And he shows potential for even better things ahead.
Carrick could be one of Toronto's breakout stars next year. He was terrific for the Marlies and there's an opening for him to play a lot.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) July 22, 2016
Earlier in the day, the Maple Leafs put Peter Holland on waivers prior to Monday’s arbitration hearing between the two sides.
Holland could also face tough competition for an NHL job in Toronto, with the signing of Matt Martin, and the influx of young players from the Marlies who look ready for the NHL.The Leafs also face a unique salary cap crunch. They have about $3 million in cap space, but must re-sign Holland, as well as defencemen Frank Corrado and Martin Marincin while remaining in the market for a backup goalie.