Morgan Rielly re-signs with the Maple Leafs for less than expected!

The Toronto Maple Leafs have managed to re-signed star defenseman Morgan Rielly. On Friday, the blue liner agreed to an eight-year contract extension, that will pay him $7.5 million annually.

With recent contracts to defensemen of similar caliber in Seth Jones, Darnell Nurse, Dougie Hamilton and Charlie McAvoy, everyone expected Rielly to get a deal for the same numbers. Teams have been paying legitimate number one defensemen over $9M, and Rielly falls into that category. Boston Bruins' Charlie McAvoy (8 years, $76 million), Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars (eight years, $67.6 million), Seth Jones of the Chicago Blackhawks (eight years, $76 million), Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (six years, $54 million), Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils (seven years, $63 million) and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets (six years, $57.5 million).

But Rielly accepted a home discount to remain a Leaf. 

Rielly was set to become an unrestricted free agency after the end of his current deal. He received a raise of $2.5 million on average per year than that of his previous contract. 

In his ninth season with the Maple Leafs, Rielly has taken part in a total of 580 career games, ninth-most all-time among Maple Leafs blue liners. His 309 career points rank sixth all-time among Toronto defensemen. 

Rielly has four assists through eight games so far this season.

Here is the full breakdown of the contract, which comes with a full-mouvement clause. You'll see why it works for the Leafs and their player: