Maple Leafs Sign Free Agent Center Jeff Hamilton

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that they have signed free agent center Jeff Hamilton for the remainder of the season. Hamilton struggled offensively last season with the Carolina Hurricanes and had his contract bought out last summer. He had been playing with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL prior to signing with the Maple Leafs. In 142 NHL games, Hamilton has 29 goals and 42 assists for 71 points with the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, and Carolina Hurricanes. Hamilton scored nearly 20 goals during the 2006-07 season with the Blackhawks, but failed to live up to those expectations with the Hurricanes. With the Maple Leafs seeking some depth at center after trading Nik Antropov and Dominic Moore at the trade deadline, they decided to give Hamilton another shot at getting back to into the NHL. He gives the Maple Leafs some decent depth at center, and if he regain his offensive success of two seasons ago in the remaining games of the 2008-09 season, he could be back in the NHL next season.