The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed general manager Dave Nonis to a five-year extension.
Nonis took over for the fired Brian Burke just before the start of the lockout-shortened 2013 season. The Maple Leafs finished fifth in the Eastern Conference, making the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
In announcing the extension, Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment president and CEO Tim Leiweke said Thursday that ownership and management ''felt it critical'' to extend Nonis' deal now as a reward for the team's progress.
''This extension will allow David the time to build his kind of team to produce steady results, year after year,'' Leiweke said in a statement. ''Everyone is excited about his ability and grasp of the NHL landscape, and today's new contract agreement will offer the Leafs consistency and a long-term vision.''
Nonis first joined the Maple Leafs as senior vice president of hockey operations in December 2008. Before that he was GM of the Vancouver Canucks.
''I'm very grateful to Tim Leiweke and our ownership group for this contract extension,'' the 47-year-old Nonis said in a statement. ''Together with our hockey operations staff, we'll continue to patiently put the building blocks in place which will lead us to future success.''
This offseason Nonis acquired goaltender Jonathan Bernier from the Los Angeles Kings, signed left wing David Clarkson to a seven-year, $36.75 million free agent contract, and signed center Tyler Bozak to a five-year, $21 million deal.
