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Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Scenarios for the Future of Morgan Rielly

By Stephen Nixon

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal near Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal near Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
MONTREAL, QC – MAY 24: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs  (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

With one year left on a $5M AVV contract, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a big decision to make regarding Morgan Rielly this offseason.

Since 2013, Morgan Rielly has been a great professional for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Prior to the Auston Matthews Era, Rielly was a bright spot in a dark and difficult time.

Finding a young great skating defenseman is tough, but fortunately for Leafs fans everywhere, Brian Burke did so when he drafted Rielly fifth overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

On a team that is filled with superstars, serious consideration was given to Rielly in regards to becoming the next captain of the Leafs. It would have been an easy and popular decision to give him that title, but the “C” went to John Tavares instead.

Rielly is the longest tenured Maple Leaf and it would be a real shame if that reign ended anytime soon. Although you could make the argument that Jake Muzzin and T.J. Brodie are better than Rielly, he’s the heart-and-soul of the team’s defense and it’s always nice to see a homegrown talent flourish.

By all accounts, it feels like Rielly would want to stay in Toronto and try to win a Stanley Cup here, but if he becomes a free agent, it may be a lot easier to chase the money instead of a ring. As a result, the Leafs have a big decision to make this offseason, as Rielly gets set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent for the first time in his career.

Here are three scenarios that could happen with Morgan Rielly over the next year.

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