Leafs Sign Niklas Hagman to Four-Year Contract

[Thrillhouse]

Cliff Fletcher, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced on Tuesday that the hockey club has signed free agent forward Niklas Hagman to a four-year contract.

“We are very happy to add Niklas to our team and we look forward to him bringing his speed, grit and scoring touch to our lineup,” said Fletcher. “He’s a scoring threat while shorthanded and he uses his speed to score clutch goals.”

Hagman, 28, played in all 82 games for the Dallas Stars this past season registering a career-high 27 goals and 41 points. The native of Espoo, Finland led Dallas with eight game-winning goals and four shorthanded goals. He tied for second on the Stars in goals and ranked fifth in points.

Hagman has played in 481 career NHL games for Dallas and Florida, collecting 80 goals and 85 assists for 165 points, along with 101 penalty minutes. He was originally selected in the third round, 70th overall in the 1999 Entry Draft.

Internationally, Hagman has represented Finland on numerous occasions including at the Olympics (2002, 2006), the World Championships (2002, 2003, 2005) and at the World Cup of Hockey (2004).

[R.Middleton]

He's underated. But of course can't wait to see what the Leafs paid after the Finger signing.

[Thrillhouse]

4 years, $12 million.

I hate my life.

[Isles4life]

4 years, $12 mill.

Not as terrible an overpayment as Finger, but it still is one. Hagman has had a couple good years in a row, but before that he wasn't much of an offensive threat at all. This could be a good signing, or he could just regress and turn into a flop for Toronto.

[Snipes19]

EDIT: Saw the numbers involved... 4 years for 12 million?

A bit of an overpayment, but not as much as the Finger deal.

I was getting ready to call this a good move by the Leafs, but not so much anymore after seeing what they're paying Hagman. He's a good player as he scored 27 goals last year for Dallas - so he should help their offense, but it's still more than I'd pay him. I'd say he's more of a 2 million - 2.5 million per year type-player as opposed to 3 million per year...

[OHLTG_Dave]

*taps his keyboard trying to think of something to say, but all that comes to mind is constant laughter*

[Cat Smasher]

again

[Viper207]

This guy has some skill and is fast as all hell. I say at least give him a chance to show what he can do. I guarantee he flies around those eastern molasses-heeled troglodytes you guys always put out there.

[Thrillhouse]

I can't wait until we buyout his contract next year.

[canuckfan]

Another poor signing by the Leafs. I can't believe the huge amounts of money they're chucking at mediocre and unproven players. Not good.

The Leafs are supposed to be rebuilding and avoiding these types of contracts, not making more of them. It just seems like a broken record going round and round and round and round....

[detroit4life]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

I can't wait until we buyout his contract next year.

[SirYohans]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

again

Damn, another bomb dropped on their fans. This Hagman guy isn't gonna score. He's the type that needs great linemates to produce. I see him getting 30 points IMO.

[Humpzilla]

Terrible signing by the Leafs. Read Thrill's post. That's pretty much a predicated-fact.

[anti_shark]

Hagman will surprise you a lot. He scores very timely goals and is a very hard player. He is streaky and gets in funks where he doesn't do a lot of work. His defense is questionable and a lot of his goals last year came in bunches. A hat trick in one game. But 41 points on a team like Dallas is easily 50 on an offensive team. Maybe more. He is in his prime.

I wish Dallas could have signed him a let Avery go to Toronto.

You will like him. As a player----not a fighter.

[Bloody Fists]

Originally Posted by OHLTG_Dave

*taps his keyboard trying to think of something to say, but all that comes to mind is constant laughter*

I second that but who knows maybe it turns out well