Phil Kessel, Leafs have deal

Updated: October 1, 2013, 2:09 PM ET
By Pierre LeBrun | ESPN.com

MONTREAL -- The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed top offensive star Phil Kessel to an eight-year extension before the puck drops on the new season.

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The deal results in an $8 million cap hit per season, a source told ESPN.com.

TSN in Canada was the first to report a potential deal.

Kessel, whose previous contract was to expire after this season, had expressed a desire to get a deal done before the opener or halt negotiations until after the season. The Leafs open Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens.

Kessel, expected to play for Team USA at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, led the Leafs in scoring last season with 52 points (20-32) in 48 games. He has led Toronto in points in all four seasons since coming over in a trade from the Boston Bruins in September 2009.

Pierre LeBrun

NHL
  • Covers the NHL for ESPN.com and TSN in Canada
  • Six years on the "Hockey Night In Canada" Hotstove panel
  • 13 years at The Canadian Press National News Agency

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