Maple Leafs Sign Forward Wallin to One-Year Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lured another player away from the Swedish Elite League by signing center Rickard Wallin to a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wallin makes the second Swede the Maple Leafs have signed from the Swedish League, with goalie sensation Jonas Gustavsson having signed a one-year deal on July 9. Last season in 55 games with Farjestad, Wallin scored 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points. Wallin’s stock has risen over the past few seasons after his offensive game really began to take off in Sweden. He last played in the NHL during the 2003-04 season with the Minnesota Wild. In 19 career NHL games, all with the Wild, he has six goals and four assists for 10 points. If Wallin can produce the same numbers in the NHL that he did in the Swedish League, then this will be a great signing for the Wild. His offensive game has really improved since his last game in the NHL five years ago, so he could be an effective top-six forward for the Maple Leafs. If he has a good season in 2009-10, expect him to remain in Toronto beyond next season.