Leafs sign Knodel to one-year, entry-level deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed University New Hampshire defenceman Eric Knodel to a one-year, entry-level contract. (Charles Krupa/AP)

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenceman Eric Knodel to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.

The entry-level deal will kick in at the start of the 2014-15 season.

Knodel will join the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League for the remainder of the 2013-14 season on a professional tryout agreement.

The six-foot-six, 225-pound blueliner has played at the University New Hampshire since 2011. He had seven goals, 21 assists, 28 penalty minutes and a plus-16 rating in 41 games this past season. He also served as captain of the team.

The 23-year-old of West Chester, Penn., was selected by the Leafs in the fifth round (128th overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft.

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