Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas completed an important order of business Friday, locking up defenseman Morgan Rielly to an eight-year contract extension with a $7.5-million average annual value.
Rielly is in the final campaign of a six-year, $30-million contract he signed back in 2016, so he'll see a $2.5-million raise when the new deal kicks in next season. This pact will keep the Leafs' longest-serving member and the 2012 fifth overall pick in Toronto through his age-35 season.
Below, we analyze the contract and what it means for the Leafs and their top-heavy roster construction moving forward.
Is it a good deal?
Mark Blinch / National Hockey League / Getty
As far as market value goes, it's fair. Rielly will earn less than fellow offensive blue-liners Seth Jones ($9.5M AAV), Darnell Nurse ($9.25M AAV), and Dougie Hamilton ($9M AAV), but more than defensive stalwarts such as Colton Parayko ($6.5M AAV) and Ryan Pulock ($6.15M AAV). All five of these defensemen are around Rielly's age and signed contracts in the last year.
Rielly likely could've earned more on the open market this summer had he decided to test free agency. But staying with the Leafs and getting the eighth year of term proved to be more important to him. Evolving-Hockey projected Rielly to sign an eight-year deal with an $8.21-million AAV if he stayed in Toronto.
Now, just because the contract is fair relative to market value doesn't necessarily mean it's a good deal relative to what the player brings to the team.
Rielly is an excellent offensive play driver. He's an elite skater and uses his legs and vision to push play up ice and join the rush.
On the flip side, he's a poor defender. Partially due to his aggressive offensive nature, the Leafs give up tons of scoring chances when he's on the ice.
Evolving-Hockey.com
Rielly clearly does more good than bad for his team. But he'll be tied for the 21st highest-paid defenseman in the league next season, and it's fair to wonder if someone who struggles as much in their own end as Rielly is worth No. 1 D-man type of money.
Additionally, as is the case with most players signed into their mid-30s, the deal doesn't project to age well.
Morgan Rielly is an excellent offensive defenceman and puck-mover, who gives *a lot* back the other way. He’s worth the price for the first few years, but as expected the term is the biggest problem as he likely doesn’t age well into his 30’s. pic.twitter.com/T9BYI4yIbC
However, the Leafs are trying to contend while Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander are under contract and in their primes. Plus, it would've been awfully difficult to stomach letting Rielly walk for nothing as an unrestricted free agent after Toronto lost Zach Hyman this past summer. More importantly, it would've left a gaping hole on the team's blue line and in its leadership group. This was a deal the Leafs had to make.
How does it affect Campbell's future?
Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / Getty
While getting Rielly signed was rightly Toronto's priority, it's easy to overlook that goaltender Jack Campbell is set to become a UFA at season's end. Getting him signed could now prove to be difficult.
Campbell has been sensational since joining the Leafs in February 2020, posting a .920 save percentage in 35 regular-season games and a .934 save percentage in seven playoff contests. He's also been a total bargain at $1.65 million per season.
Toronto signed Petr Mrazek to a three-year deal with a $3.8-million AAV in the offseason to replace the departing Frederik Andersen and help form a reliable tandem with Campbell. If Campbell outplays Mrazek this season, a $4-million AAV seems like Campbell's floor. And he'd be well within his right to ask for $5 million or more.
That could be problematic considering the Leafs now project to have just $5.38 million in cap space next season with a roster of only 15 players.
Campbell seems to love playing in Toronto, and he's become beloved by both his teammates and the fans. Even if the Leafs don't re-sign him, they'll have to pay a similar rate for a goalie to split time with the oft-injured Mrazek. It feels more than likely Campbell is re-signed, but Rielly's extension doesn't make it any easier.
One way to create cap space for Campbell would be trading away forwards Alexander Kerfoot ($3.5M AAV) and Nick Ritchie ($2.5M AAV), whose contracts expire after next season. Kerfoot has underperformed relative to his cap hit since joining Toronto, and Ritchie, who was signed this past summer, hasn't made a strong first impression. Neither deal should be too troublesome to get rid of.
Does a 'Core 4' forward have to go?
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Even if the Leafs deal Kerfoot and Ritchie, it'll be difficult to upgrade the roster. In the following projection, we re-signed UFAs Campbell and Jason Spezza while giving modest raises to restricted free agents Pierre Engvall, Ondrej Kase, and Rasmus Sandin. All three RFA deals could prove to be higher than what we projected.
CapFriendly.com
With the salary cap projected to increase by $1 million to $82.5 million next season, this roster gives the Leafs $2.17 million in cap space. And it's clear they'd need at least two more forwards, ideally one who can play in the top six and one with the versatility to play center if needed.
This again begs the question as to whether Toronto's top-heavy roster construction can work. With Rielly's deal in the fold, the Leafs will be paying five players $48 million - 58% of the salary cap.
If they were to trade a member of the "Core 4," Marner would be the most logical candidate. Matthews isn't going anywhere, Tavares has a no-movement clause, and Nylander's contract is too team-friendly.
While it's too early to dive into what a Marner trade would look like, getting a cheaper, lesser winger to take his spot in the top six, as well as an additional asset or two, would make sense. It'd allow the Leafs to add some much-needed depth.
Ultimately, the team's success this season will decide the fate of the "Core 4." If Toronto finally breaks through and wins at least one playoff round, Dubas may decide to keep the gang together and continue adding bargain pieces. Anything less, and it likely won't be Dubas calling the shots. At that point, it'll be abundantly clear this top-heavy roster construction doesn't work in a hard-cap league.
The Chicago Blackhawks find themselves in the NHL record books for the wrong reasons.
The Blackhawks fell to 0-5-1 on the season with a 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday, during which time they've never held a lead. At 360:57, it's the longest streak without holding a lead to begin a season since at least 1979-80, Sportradar told The Associated Press' Jay Cohen.
Season
Team
Game time
2021-22
Blackhawks
360:57
2000-01
Capitals
350:25
2015-16
Devils
308:07
1995-96
Canadiens
300:57
2019-20
Sharks
284:47
Chicago made a flurry of offseason splashes to try and get the franchise back on track after four mediocre years, acquiring Seth Jones, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Tyler Johnson, among others.
However, the moves haven't panned out, as the Blackhawks have been outscored 27-12 and sit dead-last in league standings by virtue of points percentage.
To make matters worse, Chicago's 2022 first-round pick belongs to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the Jones deal, although it's lottery protected.
The Blackhawks' next chance at picking up their first win of the season comes Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The draft pick originally belonged to San Jose, but Ottawa acquired it in January in exchange for defenseman Christian Jaros.
Gambrell, a second-round pick of the Sharks in 2016, has skated in 110 career NHL games, recording 10 goals and 13 assists. The 25-year-old center has been productive in the minors, though, tallying 58 points in 69 AHL contests.
"Dylan's a player whose progress we've monitored since his collegiate career at the University of Denver," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said. "He's a good skating center, a strong checker, and a responsible penalty killer. We have a void at center on account of some recent injuries and Dylan will help us with that need."
The Sens are shorthanded down the middle of the ice, as Shane Pinto is expected to miss one-to-two weeks and Colin White is out until at least February.
This marks the fifth trade made between Dorion and Sharks GM Doug Wilson.
"We've got to go back to the drawing board," defenseman Jake Muzzin said, per The Athletic's James Mirtle. "We're going to have to work a lot harder to win. It's inexcusable. Myself, everyone. We need to be better."
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was understandably upset postgame.
"I have a lot of thoughts," he said. "Not many good ones."
The Maple Leafs gave the puck away nine times - three times more than the Penguins. Keefe highlighted puck management as a necessary area of improvement moving forward, but also said the Leafs have been getting burned by cheating for offense and looking for the easy way out.
"It's easy to start doubting and questioning things when things aren't going your way," Keefe said, per The Hockey News' David Alter. "The difficult thing to do is to dig in and recognize that the league is very good and (if) you cut corners one little bit, teams make you pay for it."
Winger Mitch Marner, who has just one assist in six games this season, stressed the importance of patience.
Stuart Skinner was recalled from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors in a corresponding move.
Smith left Tuesday's game against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period after suffering a lower-body injury. The 39-year-old has posted a stellar .920 save percentage in three appearances.
Skinner, a third-round pick in 2017, owns a .946 save percentage in two games with the Condors this season. He recorded a .914 save percentage in 31 AHL contests a year ago. The 22-year-old has made one NHL appearance, during which he allowed five goals on 38 shots.
Mikko Koskinen is projected to handle the lion's share of the workload with Smith sidelined.
Ruff added that Hughes will be further evaluated on Wednesday.
Hughes was rubbed out along the boards by Jeremy Lauzon late in the opening frame. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick was favoring his upper body as he left the ice and didn't return.
Hughes scored two goals in the Devils' opener on Friday and already recorded an assist during Tuesday's first period. He finished second on the team with 31 points in 56 games a year ago.
This guarantees the Russian superstar will miss at least 10 games and 24 days. It also means the $9.5-million average annual value on Kucherov's contract won't count against the cap for the time being.
Kucherov departed Saturday's game against the Washington Capitals with what appeared to be a lower-body injury after colliding with Garnet Hathaway.
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) October 17, 2021
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said Monday that the ailment is "definitely not a day-to-day thing" and that Kucherov is "going to be out for a while."
Kucherov spent the entirety of the 2020-21 campaign on LTIR while recovering from offseason hip surgery, allowing the Lightning to stay cap compliant without trading away any key players. He returned for the playoffs and helped guide the Bolts to their second straight Stanley Cup.
The ailment, which Pacioretty suffered in Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Kings, is expected to keep him out for approximately six weeks, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.
Pacioretty is the latest Golden Knight to go down, as the team is dealing with a litany of injuries up front.
For those keeping track of the Knights' forwards:
- Alex Tuch (LTIR) - Nicolas Roy (IR) - Brett Howden (IR) - William Carrier (concussion protocol) - Mattias Janmark (COVID-19 protocol) - Max Pacioretty (Out possibly six weeks, per @FriedgeHNIC) - Mark Stone (TBD)
Toronto, which made the move after netminder Petr Mrazek suffered a groin injury Thursday in Ottawa, was only carrying one extra skater due to its cap crunch. However, that extra skater, Timothy Liljegren, is needed to play on Saturday due to an illness to defenseman Justin Holl, head coach Sheldon Keefe announced, per TSN's Mark Masters.
Mrazek's injury doesn't appear to be a long-term issue, Keefe added. So neither Mrazek, Holl, nor Auston Matthews - who was already ruled out for the first week of the season - are on long-term injured reserve. Thus, all three players still count against the cap even though they won't be active Saturday night.
Once the Leafs play one game short an NHL player - as they will Saturday - they can recall third goalie Michael Hutchinson from the AHL on an emergency basis for their next tilt Monday, even if their injury and cap situation remains the same, per TSN's Chris Johnston.
Bishop, a native of Richmond Hill, Ontario, posted a .922 save percentage in 24 games with the Varsity Blues in 2019-20. Prior to attending UofT, the 24-year-old played three seasons in the QMJHL and a year split between the OJHL and MHL.
Liljegren, a first-round pick in 2017, has skated in 13 career NHL games, recording one assist. He's projected to take Holl's spot alongside Jake Muzzin, with whom Liljegren was paired during the team's first week of training camp.
