Sundin, Maple Leafs Agree to Extension

Mats Sundin, the first European captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, said Tuesday that he has agreed to a new four-year, $22.8-million contract with the team.

The 27-year-old Swedish forward and Leaf President Ken Dryden said the deal was signed earlier this month, a day before Sundin left for the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Sundin is earning $1.8 million this season.

Sundin leads the Leafs with 24 goals and 26 assists in 55 games this season and has 256 goals and 608 points in 584 career games in the NHL.

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The Carolina Hurricanes insist their offer sheet to Detroit Red Wing center Sergei Fedorov is valid and today’s arbitration hearing is a formality.

The NHL on Monday disallowed the six-year $38-million offer sheet, contending it did not comply with the collective bargaining agreement.

Arbitrator John Sands is to review the offer sheet during a conference call today.

But Hurricane owner Peter Karmanos said in Raleigh, N.C., the offer sheet does indeed comply and that the only question is whether a $12-million bonus clause will be included.

Fedorov, a restricted free agent who has not played this season, last week agreed to a contract with the Hurricanes that would pay him a $14-million signing bonus, $2 million in salary and $12 million if his team makes it to the conference finals this year. That means he could receive $28 million in four months.

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Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic will sit out about four more weeks after suffering a sprained knee ligament while playing for Canada in the Olympic Games.