Former ECHL Players Sign Contracts Worth Over $60 Million

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board... NEW YORK - The first day of free-agent signings in the National Hockey League on Tuesday had 14 former ECHL players signing contracts totaling more than $60 million. The Boston Bruins signed former ECHL All-Star Michael Ryder to a three-year deal worth $12 million while the Toronto Maple Leafs signed former Reading Royals defenseman Jeff Finger to a four-year contract worth $14 million and the New York Islanders signed Mark Streit to a five-year deal worth $20.5 million. The Premier 'AA' Hockey League had affiliations with 26 of the 30 teams in the NHL in 2007-08, marking the 11th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams. There have been 355 players who have played in the NHL after the ECHL and 210 who have made their debut in the last... [read full story]