The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has signed defenceman Morgan Rielly to an eight-year contract extension. The average annual value of the contract is $7.5 million.
Rielly, 27, skated in 55 games for the Maple Leafs in 2020-21 and recorded 35 points (five goals, 30 assists). In 580 career NHL regular season games, all with the Maple Leafs, Rielly has registered 309 points (59 goals, 250 assists) while adding 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 32 career Stanley Cup playoff games. Rielly is currently the longest-serving Maple Leaf and has been an alternate captain for the club since 2016.
During the 2019-20 season, he became the second defenceman in Maple Leaf history, joining Börje Salming, to begin his career with seven consecutive 20-assist seasons. Among Maple Leafs franchise leaders for defencemen, Rielly ranks 10th in goals (59), fifth in assists (250), sixth in points (309) and tied for ninth in games played (580).
Internationally, Rielly has represented Canada several times and captured a gold medal at the IIHF World Championships in 2016. The West Vancouver, British Columbia native also represented Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Rielly was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
Officially official 🤝 #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/IfM3Fzjd09
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 29, 2021
Rielly news announced to team at end of practice @BarDown pic.twitter.com/MBuNDHjNHr
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 29, 2021
Seems to be some confusion on this so let's clarify:
Morgan Rielly's full no-move clause kicks in immediately today and covers the entirety of his 8-year extension. So he's got a full no-move for 9 years starting now.
His 10-team NTC in final two seasons still within the full NMC— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 29, 2021
Leafs get a decent AAV on Rielly at $7.5M given where high-end D market has gone. But the 8th year is huge. To get $60M on open market at 7 years max that's an $8.5M AAV.
Still, given number of teams who called Leafs on him in off-season, Rielly left money on the table to stay.— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 29, 2021