Dmitri Khristich

Date of Last Contract: October 21, 1999

Signed Through: 2002-2003 Season

Details:

* denotes club option

Article:

Leafs Obtain Rights to Khristich

Thursday, October 21, 1999

TORONTO (CP) -- Dmitri Khristich practised with the Toronto Maple Leafs today, wearing a helmet with No. 19 on the back, after agreeing to a contract valued at more than $10 million US if it runs its four-year course.

The deal followed an announcement by the Leafs that they had obtained from the Boston Bruins the rights to match Khristich's August arbitration award of a $2.8-million US salary for 1999-2000 in exchange for a second-round 2000 entry draft pick.

Khristich, 30, a Ukrainian, scored 29 goals for the Bruins last season and he has 225 in 627 career NHL games.

He'd been without a team since the Bruins exercised their right to walk away from the arbitration ruling, making Khristich a free agent. Boston retained the right to match any offer less than 80 per cent of the arbitrator's decision.

Toronto will pay the Ukrainian forward $850,000 this season plus bonuses worth $750,000 and $700,000 to be paid over the next two years. His base salary will be $2.5 million for the second and third years, and $2.75 million plus a $300,000 signing bonus if the Leafs pick up a an additional year at their option.

Making room on their roster, the Leafs traded veteran left-winger Derek King to the St. Louis Blues late Wednesday.