Leafs bring back Roman Polak on one-year deal

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Saturday evening the club has signed defenseman Roman Polak to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately known.

The 30-year-old Ostrava, Czech Republic native played the past two seasons in Toronto before being dealt by the Leafs to the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 22, along with forward Nick Spaling, in exchange for forward Raffi Torres and two second-round draft picks. Polak played in all 24 of the Sharks’ playoff games as San Jose lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final.

Polak adds a veteran presence to a young Leafs’ defense corps that will most likely include at least four players currently aged 25 or younger in Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly, Frank Corrado and Martin Marincin. Corrado and Marincin are restricted free agents.

The Polak deal is Toronto’s second noteworthy signing in an uncharacteristically quiet off-season for a club known for making moves via free agency. On July 1, the Leafs signed forward Matt Martin to a four-year, $10 million contract.

In 559 regular season games over 10 NHL seasons with the Sharks, Leafs and St. Louis Blues, Polak has registered 104 points (19 goals, 85 assists) and 439 penalty minutes. In 111 games with Toronto, he has recorded 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) and 104 penalty minutes. He was originally drafted by the Blues in the sixth round (180th overall) in 2004.