Avalanche sign ex-Leafs Tucker, Raycroft

The Colorado Avalanche have signed a pair of former Maple Leafs, with forward Darcy Tucker and goaltender Andrew Raycroft joining the team as free agents.

Tucker, 33, signed a two-year, $4.5-million US deal with the club. The native of Endiang, Alta., was bought out on June 26 by the Leafs, who will continue to pay the left-winger $1 million per season over the next six years.

Tucker posted 18 goals and 16 assists for 34 points in 74 games last season, his eighth with Toronto. One of the NHL's feistier forwards, he has 197 goals and 436 points in 813 games since he was drafted in the sixth round (151st overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in 1993.

"Darcy Tucker gives us scoring ability and a physical presence up front," said Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere in a statement. "He’s a fierce competitor. We like the combination of qualities he will bring to our roster."

Raycroft, 28, signed a one-year pact with Colorado worth $800,000 US.

The native of Belleville, Ont., was put on waivers by the Maple Leafs on June 24 and then bought out of the final year of his contract, worth $2.2 million US.

Raycroft went 2-9-5 last season with a 3.92 goal-against average and an .876 save percentage; he last won a game in November. The previous season, he set a franchise record with 37 wins in 72 games.

Raycroft was signed to a three-year deal before playing a game with the Maple Leafs after being traded from Boston in 2006 for goalie prospect Tuuka Raask.

The Avalanche were left with several holes in the day from free agents signing elsewhere. Goaltender Jose Theodore went to Washington, forward Andrew Brunette back to Minnesota, and defencemen Jeff Finger and Kurt Sauer to Toronto and Phoenix, respectively.