Experts Rumour Update: Leafs Sign Toskala To Extension? Already?
According to Howard Berger, the Maple Leafs have completed the parameters of a contract extension with goalie Vesa Toskala, acquired last week with forward Mark Bell from the San Jose Sharks.
The Leafs cannot announce the extension until July 1st (Sunday) at the earliest, as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Details are sketchy but it could be a three-year deal plus a club option. The monetary aspect of the extension will not count against the Leafs’ salary cap figure in the coming season — Toskala is under contract for 2007-08 at $1.375 million.
Experts Look: Again, this can be seen as another bad move made by JFJ. He did the same thing last year with goalie Andrew Raycroft before even seeing how the netminder would do with the team and is now stuck with him and his contract which pays him over 2million a year. This could also be seen as the organization showing confidence in Toksala which may bare fruit for both sides but it is still too early to be throwing away money and terms to someone who has yet to play a full year as a #1 goaltender let alone has yet to dawn the Maple Leafs jersey….