Maple Leafs sign Finnish forward Miro Aaltonen to entry-level contract

According to the Maple Leafs’ official PR Twitter account, the team has signed 23-year-old centre/winger Miro Aaltonen to an entry-level deal.

Aaltonen, who was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round of the 2013 draft, is currently playing for Vityaz Podolsk of the KHL, where he has 19 goals and 25 assists through 59 games, good for third on the team. Before that, Aaltonen spent seasons with the Espoo Blues and Kärpät of the Finnish Elite League, and twice played for Finland’s U20 team the World Juniors.

According to scouts, Aaltonen is an excellent skater, is skilled and creative with the puck, and is a strong playmaker. He’s also been characterized as a player who plays a high energy game which helps compensate for being undersized.

This signing puts the Leafs at 31/50 contracts for the 2017-18 season, and, of course, since he’s on an entry-level deal, Aaltonen will not need to be protected in the upcoming expansion draft.