Toronto Maple Leafs sign Rifai, Lajoie and Akhtiamov

The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defensemen Marshall Rifai ($775,000 for two years) and Maxime Lajoie ($775,000 for one) and Artur Akhtiamov (two-year entry-level contract) to contracts on Saturday.

The Leafs were quiet to open up free agency, but signed Ryan Reaves, William Lagesson and John Klingberg to deals later on in the afternoon.

Rifai, 25 made his pro hockey debut last year, recording four goals, 16 points and 118 penalty minutes in 69 games with the Toronto Marlies. Rifai won the ECAC championship with Harvard before turning pro, where he had a career-high 13 points in 35 games in 2021-22.

Lajoie, 25, has six years of AHL experience, scoring 26 goals and 132 points in 257 games with Belleville and Chicago. He had a career-best 11 goals and 45 points in 63 games as captain of the Wolves last year and even skated in three games with the Carolina Hurricanes. He has 15 points in 70 games over five NHL seasons with Carolina and Ottawa.

Akhtiamov, 21, was drafted with the 106th pick in 2020. He was one of the best goaltenders in the second-tier Russian league last year, recording a .943 save percentage and a 20-12-6 record with six shutouts in 39 games with Neftyanik Almetievsk. He also played one game at the 2021 world juniors, stopping 17 of 18 shots sent his way against Austria.

The two defenders will likely play in the AHL, while Akhtiamov could look to fight for a roster spot with the Marlies with Vyacheslav Peksa, Dennis Hildeby and Keith Petruzzelli. Akhtiamov could also return to Russia on loan from the Leafs for a season.