Leafs Sign Luke Schenn to Five-Year Deal

[Thrillhouse]

Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Friday that the hockey club has agreed to terms with restricted free agent defenceman Luke Schenn on a new five year contract.

Schenn, 21, established career highs in games played (82), assists (17), points (22) and shots (128), and added five goals and 34 penalty minutes last season with the Maple Leafs. He was one of five Leafs to play in all 82 games and led all NHL defencemen, ranking eighth overall, with 251 hits in 2010-11. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native also led the Maple Leafs in blocked shots with 168, and was the only player in the NHL to have over 250 hits and at least 150 blocked shots last season.

Schenn was selected to play for Team Canada at 2011 IIHF World Championship in Slovakia and appeared in seven games collecting one assist. He previously represented Canada at the World Championship in 2009, winning a silver medal.

The 6-foot-2, 229-pound defenceman has led Toronto in hits in three consecutive seasons, posting 206 hits in his rookie campaign (2008-09) and 173 hits in 2009-10. He has played in 231 career NHL games, all with the Maple Leafs, posting 53 points (12 goals, 41 assists) and 155 penalty minutes.

Schenn was Toronto’s first choice, fifth overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

[grits207]

Wow, that's a lot better than what I was expecting. The rumors were the contract would only be 2-3 years with a $4 - $4.5 mil cap hit.

If Schenn continues to improve at the rate he has been, $3.5 mil could look like a hell of a bargain in 2 or 3 years time.

[sheady]

if that's the hit, I'm very happy. hopefully the kid continues to grow, he seems to love playing in TO, very happy they tied him up for 5 years.

[Gunslinger]

He and Doughty have the same agent don't they? Money wise, assuming Doughty gets his 7mil a year, the Leafs are getting more bang for their collective buck. At least at this point in their careers.

[bengino]

man i have a hard time understanding some of these moves...

I'm not saying this move is dumb or too much money... i'm trying to figure out how this guy is worth less money then Ehrhoff or Myers..?

[grits207]

Originally Posted by bengino

man i have a hard time understanding some of these moves...

I'm not saying this move is dumb or too much money... i'm trying to figure out how this guy is worth less money then Ehrhoff or Myers..?

Pretty simple really, both of those guys have a lot more offensive potential than Schenn. Good offensive defensemen will always make more money than good shutdown defensemen.

[leafs_fan77]

Originally Posted by bengino

man i have a hard time understanding some of these moves...

I'm not saying this move is dumb or too much money... i'm trying to figure out how this guy is worth less money then Ehrhoff or Myers..?

Technically he probably is worth more, but he settled for less and good on him for not having a big head like some of these clowns do.

That's a great signing if true. Schenn for 5 more years sounds real good to me.

[bengino]

Originally Posted by grits207

Pretty simple really, both of those guys have a lot more offensive potential than Schenn. Good offensive defensemen will always make more money than good shutdown defensemen.

actually Ehrhoff had one good offensive year basically.. Schenn IMO is a better all around defenseman, this coming from a guy with a strong dislike for anything to do with the Leafs.

[Pillager]

This could end up being a steal for the Leafs. If he never gets better than he was last season, the deal is fair. If he continues to improve, this a fantastic contract for the Leafs.

[straka91]

Good signing. Love how Burke sticks with his words and rarely, if ever, hands out deals over 5 years. Money is spot on.

[bruiser11]

That's an excellent signing for the Leafs.

[Cat Smasher]

I hope he leads the league in hits again for a dman, good deal, he's not even peaked yet.