Nazem Kadri signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Sportsnet reported Kadri will receive $4.1 million.
Kadri, who turns 25 on Oct. 6, had 18 goals and 39 points in 73 games for the Maple Leafs last season. He was a restricted free agent.
"I think they've shown trust in me with this [contract]," Kadri told the Toronto Sun on Sunday. "Not going to salary arbitration says a lot. I've had a great summer, I'm going to come to camp in good shape. I think I can become better as a player and as a person and stay focused."
The seventh pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, Kadri has 64 goals and 152 points in 250 games for Toronto. He had career-best marks of 20 goals and 50 points in 2013-14, though his best season on a per-game basis came in 2012-13 when he had 18 goals and 44 points in 48 games.
"I expect him to be an elite player," coach Mike Babcock told the Maple Leafs website Monday. "His training has got to match his skill set; that's to all of our guys. You can't take the summer off. You've got to get to work. I expect our best players to be our hardest-working people and set the tone, flat out. I've told them all that, they understand that and that's what they need to do. This is a big two-and-a-half months for all of them.
"I think it's a home run for him. He gets to come in and have a heck of a year and then put the screws to us."
Toronto, which traded star forward Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, still has goaltender Jonathan Bernier and defenseman Martin Marincin as restricted free agents. Marincin was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers during the 2015 draft for a fourth-round pick and forward Brad Ross.
"We're just going to go about the day-to-day and we're always looking for a way to improve our team," Babcock said. "We understand we have a long way to go. We're excited about the process and our fans should be as well."