Leafs Sign Undrafted Tyler Bozak for $4 million from NCAA

Victoria Grizzlies captain Tyler Bozak was overlooked in the NHL Entry Draft, so he went to the University of Denver, had an impressive rookie season, and has just signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly worth close to $4 million a year, including bonuses.

At 5'9" and 155 pounds, Bozak was considered too small for the NHL. After playing for two years in Denver, he is taller and heavier.

Bozak played in Victoria for three years and won the B.C. Hockey League scoring title in his final season, 2006-07, with 45 goals and 83 assists in 59 games, according to Sharie Epp of the Times Colonist in Victoria, B.C.

Bozak was out of action for three months with a knee injury, but returned in time for the NCAA tournament and had a goal plus an assist in Denver's 4-2 loss to Miami in the first round.

Toronto beat out several other NHL teams to land University of Notre Dame free agent forward Christian Hanson a few days ago. Hanson made his NHL debut in the Leafs' 8-5 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers last night.

Bozak went with Toronto over Ottawa, as the Leafs can make him a top-six forward right away. Toronto general manager Brian Burke believes Bozak has the potential to be a No. 1 centre in the NHL.

Denver coach George Gwozdecky compares him to Colorado Avalanche centre Paul Statsny.

The Leafs' next NCAA signing could be University of Vermont forward Viktor Stalberg or defenceman Matt Gilroy of Boston University.

Burke and his head coach, Ron Wilson, will team up to run the U.S. men's hockey team for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Burke was GM of the U.S. team last year. This will be Wilson's second time behind the U.S. bench. He was born in Windsor, Ont., but has dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship.