Senators Sign Justin Mapletoft

[Thrillhouse]

OTTAWA – Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today the club has signed centre Justin Mapletoft to a one-year deal.

Mapletoft, 26, spent five seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels. In his final season, he led the Rebels to the 2001 WHL title and 2001 Memorial Cup championship. He was also named WHL player of the year in 2001. The Lloydminster, Sask., native also won the WHL’s scoring title with 43 goals, 77 assists and 120 points before joining the New York Islanders American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport,Conn. the following year.

The Islanders’ fifth-round pick, 130th overall, in the 1999 NHL entry draft spent four seasons in their organization from 2001 to 2005. He played 38 NHL games, recording nine points (3-6) and eight penalty minutes. With the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Mapletoft had 47 goals, 83 assists and 217 penalty minutes in 240 regular-season games.

Mapletoft spent the last two seasons in Europe, playing in Finland, Sweden and most recently Germany. He recorded two goals and five assists in 10 games with Nurnberg’s Sinupret Ice Tigers of the Germany Elite Hockey League (DEL).

[Juha82]

Mapletoft flopped in Finland.
He has a hard work to get to the NHL.

[Podollan]

AHL signing.

[Isles4life]

Originally Posted by Podollan

AHL signing.

Yep. He did seem like a decent prospect at one point back in his Islanders days, but he never really went anywhere.

[frankie515]

I had 2 seats for the Soundtigers their first yr. with Godard, Mapletoft and Dipietro.

I always thought he would do well in the bigs!!

How did he flop in Finland?

[Juha82]

He played about lazy.
No much emotion.
We expect much of him, but he sucks.
American hockey player isn't so easy adapt to big arena.
John Madden and S.Avery too flopped in Finnish Elite League, because they wanted to home.
For Avery have of stance problems.
I am not sure did was for Mapletoft.