Can the Leafs Afford Morgan Rielly?

August 10, 2021 c_admin NHL News Comments Off on Can the Leafs Afford Morgan Rielly?

Limited salary-cap space prevented the Toronto Maple Leafs from making significant additions to their lineup this summer. That issue could also cost them Morgan Rielly next summer.

A big-minute, puck-moving defenseman, the 27-year-old Rielly is an invaluable member of the Leafs’ core. He’s entering the final season of his contract with a cap hit of $5 million.

The Toronto Sun‘s Steve Simmons observed young defensemen such as Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse, Colorado’s Cale Makar, Chicago’s Seth Jones and Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen signing lucrative long-term contracts this summer worth over $8 million annually. He considers that figure as the going rate for a blueliner of Rielly’s caliber.

A better comparable is Dougie Hamilton, who recently inked a seven-year contract with an annual average value of $9 million. Rielly could get as much, perhaps more, via next summer’s open market.

Cap Friendly shows the Leafs carrying $67.78 million invested in 14 players for 2022-23. Like Rielly, goaltender Jack Campbell is also eligible for UFA status while rearguard Rasmus Sandin is their noteworthy restricted free agent.

Simmons believes the Leafs face a difficult situation with Rielly. They can lose him for nothing to free agency or pay big bucks to re-sign him. The latter option means shipping out someone else to free up sufficient cap room. Letting him walk, on the other hand, leaves a big hole on their blueline that will be difficult to fill with meager cap space.