SPORTSNET.CA
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed free agent Robert Slaney to a three-year entry level deal, the club announced Tuesday.
Slaney, a 20-year-old native of Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland, led the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in goals (36) and points (81) this past season. He also had 78 penalty minutes. Among all QMJHL players he ranked 10th in points and 11th in goals. The 6-2, 204-pound forward has collected nine points on five goals and four assists in six playoff games.
“We are excited to have Robert join the Maple Leafs organization,” Leafs president and GM Brian Burke said in a statement. “He is a strong power forward, who has good size, and his offensive totals have continuously improved over the past four seasons of junior hockey with Cape Breton.”
In 239 career games with Cape Breton from 2005 to 2009, Slaney has tallied 78 goals, 90 assists and 168 points, along with 229 penalty minutes. In 2007-08 he was named the Canadian Hockey League’s academic player of the year.
Slaney is currently out of the lineup after suffering a broken orbital bone during Cape Breton’s playoff run.
