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6/30/2004
Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk aren't going anywhere.
The two veteran forwards who grew up together in Whitby, Ont., have agreed to terms with the Toronto Maple Leafs, opting not to test unrestricted free agency at midnight.
Sources say Roberts agreed to a one-year deal with a base salary of $3.75 million while Nieuwendyk agreed to a one-year deal that will pay him $3 million.
That's a $500,000 decrease from what Roberts earned last season and a $1 million increase over what Nieuwendyk earned in 2003-04.
Also, defenceman Aki Berg has re-signed with the Maple Leafs. Sources say it's a one-year deal at $1.4 million, the same salary he earned this past season.
Berg was not extended a qualifying offer by the Maple Leafs and if he hadn't worked out a new contract before midnight tonight, he would likely have become an unrestricted free agent.
The Leafs are continuing negotiations with impending unrestricted free agents Ed Belfour. Belfour's negotiations may extend beyond midnight, which means he will be eligible for unrestricted free agency, but the market for goalies suggests Belfour's best deal is likely to be cut in Toronto and that could still happen on July 1st or later.
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Same OLD people, same old result next year
