Slap Shot 3: Maple Leafs Sign a Hanson

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed one of the Hansons today. One of the Hanson brothers, famous for the movies Slap Shot, starring Paul Newuman, and Slap Shot 2, has a son named Christian and he is now a Leaf.

Christian Hanson is known as The Son of Slap Shot but he has a reputation as more of a play-maker than a banger.

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced that the hockey club has signed free agent centre to a two-year entry level contract.

“We are excited to have Christian signed to a contract, and look forward to seeing him play for our organization,” said Burke, according to press release from the Leafs. “He is a very intelligent hockey player who has good size and a solid scoring touch around the net.”

Hanson, a 23-year-old native of Venetia, Pennsylvania, recently completed his four-year career at the University of Notre Dame.

This past season, the 6'4", 228-pound forward played in 37 games for the Fighting Irish, registering a career-high 31 points on 16 goals and 15 assists, along with 28 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating.

He was second on the team in goals (tie) and third in points (tie). He also added five game-winning goals and six power-play goals.

In 140 games with Notre Dame over four seasons from 2005 to 2009, Hanson collected 64 points (36 goals, 28 assists) and 123 penalty minutes.

Hanson is the son of Dave Hanson, one of the famed "Hanson Brothers" in the iconic 1977 movie Slap Shot. Dave Hanson played Jack Hanson in Slap Shot.

He is scheduled to arrive in Toronto on Tuesday night and will practice with the club Wednesday, according to Tim Wharnsby of The Globe and Mail. He is expected to make his NHL debut in Philadelphia on Friday night and will play at home Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Globe reported that six other clubs were in the running for Hanson but he chose the Leafs because he'll have an opportunity to play right away.

Hanson will receive an annual base salary of $787,000 for each year with a signing bonus of $87,500 for each of the two years, according to Wharnsby.

Hanson's Irish were eliminated from the NCAA playoffs this past weekend, making him eligible to sign a professional contract, according to Sportsnet.ca, who called him an NCAA star.

Unlike his father, who was an enforcer both on the big screen and on the rink, the younger Hanson is a power forward with goal-scoring ability.

The National Post quoted Leafs coach Ron Wilson as saying, “His dad never had any skill. He was a tough guy and he knows that. He was a big, tough crazy defenceman back in the day. Again, everyone will confuse [Christian] with his dad, but he's a much more of a skilled player with great size."

Wilson’s father briefly coached Dave Hanson in the CHL.