Toronto Maple Leafs: Alexander Kerfoot signs four-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed centre Alexander Kerfoot to a new four-year contract worth $3.5 million annually.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Alexander Kerfoot have come to an agreement on a new four-year, is $14-million contract, the team announced Thursday.

Kerfoot was acquired by the Maple Leafs on Monday from the Colorado Avalanche. The deal will carry an annual average value of $3.5 million.

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The 24-year-old was a fifth-round pick of the New Jersey Devils back in 2012. The BCHL product was headed for a collegiate career at Harvard and didn’t sign a deal. He’d spend four years with the Crimson, serving his final season as a captain. He also had 16 goals and 45 points in 36 games during his senior year to earn a finalist spot for the Hobey Baker Award.

Following the end of his NCAA career, Kerfoot was an unrestricted free agent. He opted to sign a two-year entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche.

Kerfoot would have an impressive rookie campaign with the Avs, scoring 19 goals and 43 points in 79 games. He’d follow that up with 42 points this past season while playing just over 12 minutes a night.

The Maple Leafs also inked defender Cody Ceci to a one-year, $4.5-million deal on Thursday, leaving the team with just $9.6 million to address the Mitch Marner situation. With the way his camp has operated and the money left on the table, it’s not a stretch to think that these negotiations could extend into training camp – especially if you look back at the other contract negotiations Darren Ferris, Marner’s agent, has had with his clients. There’s been no threat of a move to Europe for a season yet, so we’ve got a ways to go in this process from the looks of it.

Kerfoot provides great value for the Leafs over the next four years, he’ll be heading into this season looking to eclipse 40 points for the third straight season to start his career.