The Maple Leafs signed Nazem Kadri and Morgan Rielly to new six-year contracts on Wednesday.John E. Sokolowski
The Toronto Maple Leafs have locked up a big part of their future. And they did it for a relative bargain.
The Leafs signed defenceman Morgan Rielly and centre Nazem Kadri – two of the organization's highest drafted players in the last seven years – to six-year contract extensions on Wednesday morning, four days after finishing in last place in the NHL.
Rielly, 22, agreed to a $5-million-a-year deal on his second contract since the Leafs selected him fifth overall in 2012.
Kadri, 25, agreed to a $4.5-million-a-year deal on his fourth contract – and first long-term one – since he was taken seventh overall back in 2009.
Both were set to become restricted free agents on July 1 and both gave up multiple years of unrestricted free agency. (Rielly gave up two, and Kadri gave up four.) They are now signed all the way until 2022, the longest of any Leafs players.
Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello called the signings "extremely important" as a message of commitment to two of their best young players.
"This is just another step toward where we want to be as far as developing the foundation of this franchise," said Lamoriello, who joined the team last summer as part of a dramatic off-season overhaul that included bringing in coach Mike Babcock.
"I don't think that they've capped what they can do. There's more that they can do. All you have to do is look at the age where they're at. There's no question they have a level that they haven't reached yet."
What they did this season was take big strides forward. Rielly led the Leafs in ice time with more than 23 minutes played per game, taking on a top-pair role for the first time and taking over a leadership role on the blueline in only his third season, after captain Dion Phaneuf was traded to Ottawa in February.
Rielly posted career highs in most categories with nine goals and 27 assists for 36 points, tied for 34th in scoring among NHL defencemen this season.
"It's just about commitment," Rielly said as to why he signed for so long. "I personally believe that this team has people in place to turn it into the team we want it to be, and it's very exciting. I certainly don't want to go anywhere so it's not about being a UFA. It's about being in Toronto, being a part of this and having belief in the team that's here and the time we have in place."
Kadri, meanwhile, had 17 goals and 28 assists for a team-leading 45 points in a shutdown role. It was his first full-season as the Leafs top-line centre and his first under Babcock, who quickly took a liking to the plucky agitator.
Always a controversial player, Kadri was suspended for off-ice conduct midway through last season, and the organization only gave him a one-year deal to prove he could change his ways.
By all accounts, he did, earning glowing reviews from Lamoriello and Babcock all year.
"I think my professionalism has come a long way in the last couple years and it's only going to get better," Kadri said.
"I feel extremely comfortable with myself personally – and I'm sure Mike and [team president] Brendan [Shanahan] do – with Naz," Lamoriello said. "I'm totally comfortable going forward. I have certain trust in him and I believe he has trust in the organization."
Both Rielly and Kadri stated they intend to work hard to continue to improve, but one big positive with the contracts for the Leafs is they aren't overpayments even if this is ultimately what they are as players.
Rielly's contract is in line with what most top-four defencemen make in the NHL, and the big question mark remaining is if he'll progress into a top two-way defender who can play on the top pair long term.
While not an elite offensive producer, Kadri has nonetheless shown for years he is a solid second-line centre, and this contract reflects that.
Both deals will likely only look better as the NHL's $71.4-million salary cap continues to increase.