Newly re-signed Leafs D Morgan Rielly sounds off on his contract extension

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas took care of an important matter of business earlier today, locking up defenseman Morgan Rielly with a massive eight year extension. The deal carries an annual cap hit of $7.5 million for Rielly, the longest current serving Leafs player and assistant captain since 2016. 

For Rielly, he admits that the contract negotiations were a good process, but he's glad that it's over. 

 "It means a lot. It has been a good process," he said. "On both sides, I think it was pretty respectful. I am just glad it is over."

Is there a reason why he didn't want to test the free-agent market? 

"It is just the way the organization operates from Larry and Judy Tanenbaum all the way down — the quality of the day in and day out work by the players and the staff all the way through," Rielly explained. "Every day that I have been here since 2012 has been first class. That is the standard around here. It is a pretty special place to be."

Of course, with several recent playoff disappointments, Rielly could have chosen to explore other opportunities. However, he's got faith in what Dubas is trying to build in Toronto, and appreciates how his GM's faith is reciprocated in him.

"The faith goes both ways," Rielly said. "I believe in the group we have here and the people we have in our locker room. For the team to offer me that notion of faith is pretty special, too. I look forward to holding up my end of the bargain in trying to accomplish the ultimate goal."

Despite their win on Wednesday night in overtime over the struggling Chicago Blackhawks, the Leafs haven't gotten off to the ideal start. In Rielly's mind, what must change to get the team back on track? 

"I think as a group our D core needs to be better," he said. "There is no two ways about it. As a group of five, we can play better defensively, but that has to start with our D core. In order to do that, we have to get some confidence, play with lots of speed, and take time and space away from the other team’s top guys. I don’t think we have been doing a good enough job of that."

Like I said earlier, there are plenty of challenges ahead. We look forward to improving our D core and being a big part of our team’s [success] moving forward with a positive impact on the game every night.

He's a veteran of 580 career NHL regular season games, and has racked up 309 points (59 goals, 250 assists) while adding 19 points (four goals, 15 assists) in 32 career Stanley Cup playoff games - all with the Leafs. So far this season, he has four assists in eight games.