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Toronto Maple Leafs sign Morgan Rielly, Nazem Kadri to six-year deals

By Dave Stevenson

Mar 29, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) celebrates with defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) after defeating the Florida Panthers 5-2 at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs center Nazem Kadri (43) celebrates with defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) after defeating the Florida Panthers 5-2 at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to rebuild as they have signed Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri to six-year deals. 

One of the most important decisions that the Toronto Maple Leafs had to make this offseason was what to do with defenseman Morgan Rielly and center Nazem Kadri. Both players were scheduled to be restricted free agents and likely due for significant raises. Toronto has gone the bold route and signed both Rielly and Kadri to six-year extensions.

This is a very gutsy move by Toronto because it proves that they are confident that both players will be a part of their core for the foreseeable future as they continue to rebuild. It also shows that they value Kadri as highly as they should even after a down year. Rielly helps rebuild their blue line by giving them a legitimate first pairing defenseman who should continue to grow into one of the NHL’s elite defensemen.

From NHL.com:

"Rielly, 22, led all Maple Leafs defencemen with a career-high 36 points (nine goals, 27 assists) while skating in all 82 games this year. Kadri, 25, led the Maple Leafs with 45 points (17 goals, 28 assists) in 76 games this season."

Kadri will make $4.5 million per season while Rielly will make $5 million per season. While the Leafs had a disappointing season that saw them finish in last place in the NHL, that was pretty much their objective from the beginning, and there are reasons to be optimistic in Toronto. Kadri and Rielly are two of them. Rielly emerged as a legitimate first pairing defenseman after the Dion Phaneuf trade, and 36 points from a 22 year old is nothing to sneeze at.

Kadri led the team in points despite having an extremely low shooting percentage. He was one of the best in the NHL at generating shot attempts this season. Should his shooting percentage return to something closer to his career average, 25 goals isn’t out of the question next season.

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