Leafs Re-Sign Berard

September 29, 1999 / 8:30 PM EDT / CBS/AP

The Toronto Maple Leafs re-signed Bryan Berard to a two-year contract on Wednesday, ending an offseason impasse that had kept Berard and fellow defenseman Dimitri Yushkevich off the ice.

The contract will pay Berard, 22, a reported $3.3 million over the two years, $1.5 million this year and $1.8 million in the second year.

Berard and Yushkevich were no-shows for training camp while their contracts were being negotiated.

Yushkevich, Toronto's best defender last season, remained unsigned three days before the Leafs open the season at Montreal.

The Leafs acquired Berard from the New York Islanders in January. He had five goals and 14 assists for the Leafs, adding a goal and eight assists during the playoffs.

Berard was the first overall draft pick in 1995 by the Ottawa Senators and was selected rookie of the year in 1997 with the Islanders, with eight goals and 40 assists in 82 games.