Alexander Mogilny admits that leaving the powerful New Jersey Devils to join the emerging Toronto Maple Leafs was not his first choice. But money, as it often does, made the difference and the high-scoring unrestricted free agent signed a four-year contract worth $22 million US with the Leafs on Tuesday.

Mogilny, 32, said Toronto's bid was better than he could have got from the Devils. New Jersey had discussions with Mogilny's agent, Mike Barnett, but made no formal offer.

I knew it wouldn't be easy to go back (to New Jersey), said Mogilny, who was the Devils' highest-paid player at $5.2 million last season. I know how (general manager) Lou (Lamoriello) negotiates contracts.

It was difficult to accept. I wanted to stay there. I won't lie to you. But it didn't work out.

The numbers were what we were looking at - I wasn't ready to sacrifice that amount of change, he added.

Mogilny, a 12-year NHL veteran, was sixth in the NHL in goal-scoring with 43 and finished 15th in points with 83 last season. The Russian right winger, who scored 76 goals for Buffalo in 1992-93, has scored 30 or more goals seven times.

He's one of the more talented players I've ever had the privilege of coaching, said Leafs coach and general manager Pat Quinn, who coached Mogilny with the Vancouver Canucks in 1995-96.

The motive behind this was to try to take a step closer to what we have set out to do - to have a team that competes for the Stanley Cup. There's no guarantee, but it puts us closer.

After a flurry of signings in the two days since a large group of top players became available on July 1, Mogilny's was the only major signing on Tuesday.

The Leafs also signed Swedish goaltending prospect Mikael Tellqvist to a rookie contract. He is expected to replace 39-year-old Glenn Healy as back-up to No. 1 goalie Curtis Joseph.

In other moves Tuesday, The Phoenix Coyotes re-signed their unrestricted free agent centre Mike Sullivan to a one-year deal, the Buffalo Sabres re-signed tough guy Rob Ray and the Atlanta Thrashers agreed to terms with defencemen Libor Ustrnul and Jeff Dessner.

Late Tuesday, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks signed unrestricted free agent defenceman Jason York to a three-year deal. The steady York was a big part of the Ottawa Senators' blue-line last season.

Later, Los Angeles Kings signed unrestricted free agent right-winger Steve Heinze to a three-year contract.

Resigned to leaving New Jersey, Mogilny jumped at the chance to play for Toronto, even if it meant moving back to Canada, which he said was difficult adjustment for his wife and two children.

It will be difficult, but I think the transition will be smooth, said Mogilny. I think Toronto will have a wonderful club and it's a great city, with great fans.

There's no better place to be. I like that it's a veteran team, with great goaltending, and lots of good young players like (Tomas) Kaberle. They've got the ingredients to win it all.

It was Quinn, while G.M. in Vancouver, who swung the deal that brought Mogilny to the Canucks for Michael Peca, Mike Wilson and a first-round draft pick in 1995.

Both men denied the long-standing belief that their relationship on the West Coast was rocky.

There was no friction, said Quinn. That might have come from a contract negotiation that was extended, but that's business.

We had hoped to re-unite Alex with (Pavel) Bure. Unfortunately, Bure got hurt in November and was out for the season, but Alex had a great season and has continued to be a great player since then.

Mogilny, who had 55 goals in his first year in Vancouver before his production plummeted the next three seasons, was traded to New Jersey on Mar. 14, 2000 for Brendan Morrison and Denis Pederson. He helped the Devils win the Cup that spring.

This season, he took some criticism for a goal-scoring drought in the later rounds, but excelled in the second round as the Devils edged the Leafs in seven games.

Mogilny had five goals and 11 assists in 25 playoff games.

Quinn would not confirm reports that he planned to use Mogilny on his second line, with Shayne Corson and recently-acquired centre Robert Reichel.

He said pairing Mogilny with Reichel would possibly be a good fit but decisions on lines won't be made until training camp.

The five-foot-11, 200-pound Mogilny, who wears No. 89 for the year he entered the NHL, said he may have another 50-goal season in his system.

I hope I can score more, but I can't promise, he said. I don't like to open up my mouth before I do anything.

But I can score 50. I'm not making any predictions, but I know I'm capable of it.