Maple Leafs Sign Calle Järnkrok to 4-Year Deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs have added another player in free agency, adding Calle Jarnkrok to a four-year deal worth $2.1 million per season. GM Kyle Dubas recently said that his next move in free agency would likely be for a player who saw an opportunity with the Leafs to show well. This deal does and doesn’t prove he was telling the truth.

🖊 We’ve signed forward Calle Järnkrok to a four-year contract.#LeafsForever

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 15, 2022

This signing has the potential to turn out really well. A player the Maple Leafs targeted at the trade deadline, he is a versatile defensive third-line forward who can score goals and draw penalties but otherwise possesses a very limited offensive skill-set. He takes very few penalties and could be a cheaper replacement for Alex Kerfoot whose name is out there in trade rumors.

At the same time, when Dubas spoke about finding bargains, a four-year deal wasn’t likely what many expected. Four years is long for a 31-year-old and a shorter term might have been the safer play. When you consider the deal includes a limited no-trade clause, it’s a deal that one has to wonder if it will stand the test of time, especially when the Leafs have bigger contracts to take care of in a couple of seasons.

All in all, Jarnkrok is a decent depth signing and in 574 regular season NHL games, Jarnkrok has collected 241 points (106 goals, 135 assists) and recorded 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 75 playoff games. That he wasn’t picked up by another team prior was a bit of a surprise.

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