The Maple Leafs are looking toward the future.
Toronto signed rookie forward Trevor Moore to a two-year, one-way extension on Sunday, the team announced. Moore's extension carries an annual cap hit of $775,000 with him pocketing $750,000 in 2019-20 and $800,000 in 2020-21. He was set to hit restricted free agency this summer.
.@SportChek Player Alert: The @MapleLeafs have signed forward Trevor Moore to a two-year contract extension.
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 13, 2019
Details >> https://t.co/rvnyNgVntp#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/4taEV7nw3K
Moore, 23, made his NHL debut earlier this season as an emergency call-up for the battered Maple Leafs. In six games, he notched three points, including his first NHL goal on Jan. 5 against the Vancouver Canucks. With the Maple Leafs getting injured players back, Moore's opportunities in the NHL were limited but head coach Mike Babcock said the California native has full-time NHL potential.
"He's going to be an NHLer, for sure," Babcock said. "It's just, how soon do you want him to play eight minutes? Do you know what I mean? That's the beauty of not getting kids here too soon is you want them to score. The more he scores (in the AHL), the more likely he's going to score at the NHL level.
"I mean, he's an NHL player, but how many years do you want to do that? That's the big thing for us. Obviously, if we can get healthy he can go down, score a lot and become a scorer rather than a checker."
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In 30 games with the organization's American Hockey League affiliate Toronto Marlies, Moore has 19 goals and seven assists. Last season, Moore was a key part of the Marlies' journey to the Calder Cup last season, notching 17 points in 20 games. He has netted 12 goals and 21 assists for the Maple Leafs' AHL affiliate this season and was named to the league's All-Star team.
Toronto signed the University of Denver product as an undrafted free agent in July 2016.