The Leafs beat out more than 20 other NHL teams to sign Russian free-agent defenceman Igor Ozhiganov and Swedish free-agent centre Par Lindholm to one-year deals. They also locked up two of their own draft picks: winger Pierre Engvall for two years, defenceman Jesper Lindgren for three. He has the size — six-foot-three — and scoring touch to be considered as a possible replacement for Leafs free-agent winger James van Riemsdyk at some point. The real coups, though, are Ozhiganov and Lindholm, both pursued hotly by other clubs. Ozhiganov, 25, told his agent in September that he only wanted to play for the Maple Leafs after having been courted by coach Mike Babcock and then general manager Lou Lamoriello.

Source: thestar May 17, 2018 21:00 UTC