Maple Leafs sign forward Calle Järnkrok to four-year deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs made their biggest — albeit still modest — splash in the NHL’s free agency market, signing forward Calle Järnkrok to a four-year, $8.4 million US contract on Friday.

The average annual value of the contract is $2.1 million, bigger than any of the Leafs other signings this week, including goalie Ilya Samsonov ($1.8 million).

Järnkrok can play both centre and wing, and comes with playmaking ability and good hockey IQ. He’s not particularly physical, but he is a reliable penalty killer. The Leafs lost two key penalty killers — Ilya Mikheyev and Ondrej Kaše — to free agency.

With his signing, as well as the additions of Samsonov, goalie Matt Murray, forwards Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Adam Gaudette, and defencemen Victor Mete and Jordie Benn, the Leafs appear to be over the salary cap by a very modest $800,000. Teams are allowed to go over the cap by 10 per cent, or $8.25 million, over the summer. The team still has restricted free agents Rasmus Sandin and Pierre Engvall to sign.

GM Kyle Dubas has many tools to deal with the cap overage, including sending players to the minors if need be.

The 30-year-old Järnkrok split the 2021-22 season between Calgary and Seattle, registering a combined 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 66 games while adding four points (one goal, three assists) in 12 playoff games with the Flames.

In 574 regular-season NHL games, the Gävle, Sweden native has collected 241 points (106 goals, 135 assists) and recorded 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 75 playoff games.

Järnkrok was originally drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round (51st overall) of the 2010 NHL draft.

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