Toronto, ON (Best E Casino) - The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Jeff Finger to a four-year contract, the club announced Tuesday.

Finger, 28, just finished his first full NHL season, tallying eight goals and 11 assists in 72 games for Colorado. He appeared in 22 games with the Avalanche the season before, recording five points.

Additionally, Finger led all Colorado defensemen in goals and was first on the club with 121 hits.

"Jeff is a player that will bring a much needed physical element to our team," Toronto general manager Cliff Fletcher said. "He showed tremendous improvement in his game last season and he plays a strong positional game at both ends of the ice."

Colorado originally picked Finger in the eighth round of the 1999 draft.