The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Nikolas Mattinen to a one-year contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Nikolas Mattinen to a one-year, two-way contract, the club announced Sunday afternoon.

Mattinen, 26, was named the 2023-24 DEL Player of the Year after leading the Straubing Tigers with 16 goals and 46 points in 52 games. The 6'5″ right-hander had a goal and seven points in 12 playoff contests with the Tigers.

The Maple Leafs selected Mattinen in the sixth round (No. 179 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. His two-way contract runs through the 2024-25 season.

Although the Maple Leafs' exclusive right to sign Mattinen expired in 2018, the club eventually bounced back under new GM Brad Treliving and have now signed the Ottawa-born defenseman to his first NHL contract, nearly eight years after he became one. compiled.