Breaking: Leafs announce signing of seven free agents

This just in, the Toronto Maple Leafs, fresh off yesterday’s shocking re-acquisition of David Clarkson, have signed a whopping seven unrestricted free agents.

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The Leafs inked forwards Pontus Aberg, Kenny Agostino, Tyler Gaudet, Kalle Kossila, Nick Shore and Garrett Wilson, and defenceman Kevin Gravel. Wow… that’s a lot of UFA depth. It's worth noting that not all of the contracts are one-way NHL deals, two of the deals are two-way contracts and, as such, the players are expected to report to the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

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Read below for the press release announcement of these signings courtesy of the team’s official website:

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed free agent forwards Pontus Aberg, Kenny Agostino, Tyler Gaudet, Kalle Kossila, Nick Shore and Garrett Wilson, and defenceman Kevin Gravel.

Aberg, 25, skated in 37 games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2018-19, registering 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) before being traded to the Minnesota Wild on January 16, 2019, where he recorded six points (one goal, five assists) in 22 games. He also had a goal and an assist in two American Hockey League games with San Diego in 2018-19. The Stockholm, Sweden native has collected 17 goals and 26 assists in 127 career regular season NHL games with the Nashville, Edmonton, Anaheim and Minnesota, as well as two goals and three assists in 18 career playoff games.

Aberg was originally drafted by Nashville in the second round (37th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. His one-year contract is worth $700,000.  

Agostino, 27, has skated in 85 career NHL games with New Jersey, Montreal, Boston, St. Louis and Calgary, scoring eight goals and registering 22 assists. The Morristown, New Jersey native has also recorded 246 points (82 goals, 164 assists) in 273 regular season AHL games. In 2016-17, he was honoured with the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's Most Valuable Player and the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the league's top scorer after collecting 83 points (24 goals, 59 assists) with the Chicago Wolves. 

Agostino was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft. His two-year contract carries an annual average value of $737,500.

Gaudet, 26, played in 50 games for the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals in 2018-19, collecting 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists) before adding a pair of assists in four Calder Cup playoff games. The Hamilton, Ontario native has previously skated in 20 career NHL games with the Arizona Coyotes, registering a goal and three assists. In 298 career regular season AHL games, Gaudet has recorded 108 points (39 goals, 69 assists). 

Gaudet was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Coyotes on November 4, 2013. His one-year, two-way contract carries an NHL salary of $700,000. 

Kossila, 26, split his 2018-19 season between the Anaheim Ducks and the AHL's San Diego Gulls. Kossila recorded a goal in eight games with Anaheim while tallying 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 44 regular season games and seven points (three goals, four assists) in 16 Calder Cup playoff games with San Diego. In 19 career NHL games, all with Anaheim, the Kauniainen, Finland native has recorded a pair of goals and one assist. Through 170 career AHL regular season games, all with San Diego, he has collected 141 points (51 goals, 90 assists), while adding 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 33 career AHL playoff games. 

Kossila was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by Anaheim on March 30, 2016. His two-year, two-way contract carries an NHL annual average value of $700,000.

Shore, 26, collected 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 37 games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL in 2018-19. The Denver, Colorado native previously spent four seasons in the NHL, recording 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) in 236 games between Calgary, Ottawa and Los Angeles.

Shore was selected by Los Angeles in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. His one-year contract is worth $750,000.

Wilson, 28, skated in 50 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2018-19 regular season, registering eight points (two goals, six assists) while adding 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 18 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. In 84 career NHL games with Pittsburgh and Florida, the Barrie, Ontario native has recorded eight points (two goals, six assists) and 42 penalty minutes. 

Wilson was originally selected by the Florida Panthers in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2009 NHL draft. His one-year contract is worth $725,000.

Gravel, 27, recorded three assists in 36 games with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2018-19 regular season while adding one assist in five games with Bakersfield of the AHL. In 106 career regular season NHL games with the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, the Kingsford, Michigan native has registered 13 points (one goal, 12 assists).

Gravel was originally selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2010 NHL draft. His one-year contract is worth $700,000.