The waiting is over for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Defenceman Bryan McCabe has accepted the team's five-year deal worth $5.75 million a year that was essentially negotiated a few weeks ago.
"I'm very pleased to be continuing my career with the Leafs and to be a member of one of hockey's most storied franchises," McCabe said in a release. "This team has the opportunity to win, and Toronto's terrific fans make it a great place to play."
McCabe would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
He earned $3.458 million last season when he was third among all NHL defencemen in goals with 19 and points with 68. Both were career highs.
"Bryan is one of the premier defencemen in the game, and as a key member of our team keeping him in Toronto was one of our top priorities this off-season," Leafs GM John Ferguson said. "Bryan is among the most skilled players at his position in the NHL. He also brings us valuable leadership both on and off the ice. We're pleased that he'll continue to be a cornerstone for our team in the future."
McCabe had initially told the Leafs he needed some more time to settle some personal matters before making the commitment. The Leafs gave McCabe a deadline of Thursday to let them know whether he would accept the offer or not.
McCabe has 95 goals and 243 assists in 781 NHL games. He previously played for the New York Islanders, who drafted him 40th overall in 1993, the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago traded him to Toronto in October 2000 for Alexander Karpovtsev and Toronto's fourth-round choice (Vladimir Gusev) in the 2001 entry draft.