Maple Leafs sign Carl Gunnarsson to a two-year contract

Toronto Maple Leafs announced Tuesday that the hockey club has signed restricted free agent defenceman Carl Gunnarsson to a two-year contract.

Gunnarsson, 24, played 68 games for the Maple Leafs in 2010-11 collecting 20 points on four goals and 16 assists with 14 penalty minutes. He ranked third among Leafs defencemen in points and fourth on the team in blocked shots (120). The native of Orebro, Sweden played over 21 minutes in each of the final 24 regular season games, and had an assist in four straight contests from March 29 to April 5. In 111 career games with the Leafs, the 6-2, 196-pound defenceman has registered seven goals, 28 assists and 35 points along with 24 penalty minutes and a (+6) rating.

Gunnarsson represented Sweden at the 2011 IIHF World Championship. In nine games, he tallied two assists and a (+5) rating, while helping Sweden win the silver medal. He has played for Sweden at the last three World Championship tournaments.

The Leafs originally selected Gunnarsson with their sixth choice, 189th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to joining the Leafs, he played four seasons for Linkoping HC of the Swedish Elite League.