The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed forward Vinni Lettieri, defenceman Cole McWard, forward Henrik Rybinski and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj. Lettieri and Hlavaj have signed one-year contracts, while McWard and Rybinski have signed two-year contracts.
Vinni Lettieri was just outstanding on the road to winning the Calder Cup, and I am sure he had substantial offers to play in Europe. The Leafs have re-signed him for one-year (they do not announce contract terms). Lettieri, 31, played his entire season on the Marlies last year after some time on the Bruins the year before.
Samuel Hlavaj is Slovakia's Olympic and World Championship goalie, and he played on the Iowa Wild last year. He is 25, and is a big man a 6'4" tall. The Wild declined to issue him a qualifying offer, making him a UFA. He went undrafted, and the Wild signed him in 2024 to an ELC.
He gives the Marlies a replacement for Dennis Hildeby who is waivers exempt for the full season.