Anyone who was excited for an arbitration hearing tomorrow (all three of you) will have to curb their enthusiasm. Frank Corrado and the Leafs agreed to a one-year deal one day in advance of his Tuesday hearing.
The Leafs have signed defenceman Frank Corrado to a one-year contract. #TMLtalk
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) July 25, 2016
Terms of the deal remain unknown, presumably because the Leafs spit on everything you hold dear to your heart. Updates will be provided as soon as we get them.
Corrado, 23, will enter his second season with the Leafs. Originally claimed on waivers from the Vancouver Canucks, Corrado would put up 6 points in 39 games with the Blue and White, largely in third-pair minutes.
While many were displeased at his being a frequent healthy scratch early in the season, speculation out of Vancouver was that the Leafs were rehabbing him from an injury sustained with the Utica Comets during the 2015 AHL postseason.
It also appears to be a big day for Ontario-born childhood Leaf fans. Like Peter Holland, who was signed this morning, Corrado grew up in nearby Woodbridge a Buds Booster. A story from the day in which the Leafs acquired him shows his excitement:
He got the call from Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello while he was at his grandmother’s house in suburban Woodbridge and quickly scrambled to get to the arena.
Corrado said his family started "jumping around and hugging each other" when he found out he was a Leaf.
With the Corrado signing, the Leafs have seven defensemen under contract, with an eighth- Martin Marincin- likely to receive a contract soon. The team will need to clear some space before September, but with bigger contracts and more waiver-exempt players up front, it is likely a safe bet the Leafs will carry 8 defensemen next season.
Update:
Corrado is $600K...and a one-way deal. https://t.co/nuPzRHF9w2
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 25, 2016
No one expected Corrado to cost much and now we know for certain that he doesn't. Good stuff.