As free agency opened, the Maple Leafs signed two of their own – goalies Curtis McElhinney and Garret Sparks – and were primed to announce the signing of defenceman Ron Hainsey.Hainsey is 36, and won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins last year, oddly enough his first year in the playoffs in an NHL career that started in 2002. He agreed to terms on a two-year contract, according to TSN.A stay-at-home type, Hainsey’s arrival probably signals the Leafs are moving on from Roman Polak and Matt Hunwick, who both became unrestricted free agents at noon.Both fill a need in net. McElhinney signed a two-year, $1.7-million deal to return as the backup to Frederik Andersen. Sparks also signed a two-year deal worth $1.3 million. The $700,000 in Sparks’s second year is one-way, guaranteed contract.McElhinney, 34, appeared in 14 games for the Maple Leafs after being claimed on waivers from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 10, 2017. The London, Ont., native posted a 6-7-0 record alongside a 2.85 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage with Toronto. Sparks, 24, appeared in 31 games for the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in 2016-17 with a record of 21-9-0, a 2.16 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.
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