Leafs look to Finland for latest prospect signing
Terry KoshanMore from Terry Koshan
Leafs look to Finland for latest prospect signing
CLEVELAND — Another day, another signing by the Maple Leafs.
The newest member of the organization is Teemu Kivihalme, a left-shooting defenceman who had 30 points in 60 games this past season for Karpat in Finland’s Liiga.
The 23-year-old Kivihalme signed a one-year, entry-level deal that would will pay him US$925,000 (including a signing bonus) with the Leafs and $70,000 if he plays for the Toronto Marlies.
Kivihalme was born in Minnesota and holds dual citizenship between the United States and Finland. Originally a fifth-round pick with the Nashville Predators in 2013, Kivihalme spent three seasons at Colorado College joining Karpat for the 2018-19 season.
The six-foot, 181-pound Kivihalme had nine points in 16 playoff games this spring.
He is expected to battle for a job in training camp on a Leafs blue line that is expected to lose Jake Gardiner, Ron Hainsey and Martin Marincin to free agency.
Included among the Marlies who will be eligible for free agency this summer are veteran defencemen Vincent LoVerde and Steve Oleksy.
The addition of Kivihalme comes after the
Leafs signed Russian right winger Ilya Mikheyev on Monday, and after the
Leafs signed 2016 second-round pick Egor Korshkov last week.
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