Closer look: Stalberg Turning Heads At Vermont | Weekly Prospect Report

Brian Burke, president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday that the hockey club has signed forward Viktor Stalberg to a two-year entry level contract. Stalberg will join the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, for the remainder of the 2008-09 season.

“Viktor was one of the best players in the NCAA this season,” said Burke. “He’s been able to perform in pressure situations and has been very consistent at both ends of the ice. We look forward to adding his size and speed to our organization.”

Stalberg, a 23-year-old native of Gothenburg, Sweden, was selected by the Maple Leafs in the sixth round, 161st overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-3, 210-pound forward appeared in 39 games with the University of Vermont Catamounts this season, ranking fifth in the NCAA with 24 goals and leading Vermont in goals, assists (22), points (46), power-play goals (7), power-play points (15), shorthanded goals (2), shorthanded points (3) and shots (165).

For his efforts this season, Stalberg was named a Division 1 First-Team All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association, a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, a Hockey East First-Team All-Star and was runner-up for Hockey East Player of the Year. He was also the Hockey East Player of the Month in January and took home two Hockey East Player of the Week awards (Nov. 24 & Jan. 19).

Other honours for Stalberg this season included: College Hockey News First-Team All-Star, Inside College Hockey Second-Team All-American, New England Division 1 All-Star and Most Improved Player in New England (Paul Hines Award).

In 117 games with Vermont over three seasons (2006 to 2009), Stalberg collected 84 points (41 goals, 43 assists) and 119 penalty minutes.