Maple Leafs give defenceman Jeff Finger a US$14-million, four-year deal

TORONTO - Journeyman defenceman Jeff Finger was in the ECHL the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs made the playoffs.

After signing him to a US$14-million, four-year deal on Tuesday, the Maple Leafs team are hoping that Finger can help get them back to the post-season.

Finger spent parts of the past two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He earned the league-minimum salary of $475,000 last season.

He has 24 points (9-15) and a plus-22 rating in 94 career NHL games.

The 28-year-old American was an eighth-round draft pick by Colorado in 1999 and spent parts of four seasons in the American Hockey League before making the jump to the NHL.

He joins a Maple Leafs team that is being rebuilt after failing to make a playoff appearance since 2004.