Reports: Maple Leafs sign Clarkson, Bozak to long-term deals

TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly wasted little time taking advantage of the salary-cap space at their disposal.

Multiple media reports say the Leafs have signed David Clarkson and re-signed Tyler Bozak.

Clarkson signed for seven years and a reported $36.75 million, while Bozak re-upped for five years and a reported $21 million.

Toronto cleared space by buying out centre Mikhail Grabovski. It went into unrestricted free agency with the second-most available under the salary cap and the ability to spend up to the $64.3-million limit.

Bozak will take up $4.2 million a year on his deal that linemate Phil Kessel praised by writing on Twitter: “My buddy is back leaf nation.” He had 12 goals and 16 assists last season.

Clarkson will count $5.25 million against the cap while adding size on right wing. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound power forward had 15 goals and nine assists last season for the Devils and scored 30 in 2011-12.

The Leafs also signed pugilist Frazer McLaren to a two-year deal worth $1.4 million. McLaren had 102 penalty minutes, three goals and two assists in 35 games last season.