Leafs Fans Can Exhale: Rielly Isn’t Going Anywhere (For Now)

There’s been no shortage of speculation about Morgan Rielly’s future in Toronto this offseason, fueled by reports that he’d quietly given the front office a short list of Western Conference teams he’d be willing to join. Nothing has materialized on that front, and by all indications, the veteran defenseman is planning on lacing up for the Maple Leafs when the puck drops this fall.

Speaking with Sportsnet’s David Morassutti, Rielly made his intentions clear: he expects to be in Toronto come opening night. “That’s what I would expect,” he said. “For me, it’s just trying to stay focused and be present. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

There’s a milestone worth watching, too. Rielly sits 49 games shy of 1,000 for his career — all of them, notably, in a Leafs sweater. Reach that number, and he’ll join just five other players in franchise history to hit the mark exclusively with Toronto.

Part of what’s kept him bought in, by his own account, is a candid sit-down with new general manager John Chayka. While Chayka reportedly stopped short of making any promises, Rielly came away encouraged by the direction the organization seems to be heading. “We had a good conversation after worlds, and he’s got a plan,” Rielly said. “He’s very direct, and as a player, that’s what you want.”

Around the League: Cap Crunches Brewing in Anaheim, Dallas and Colorado

A few other storylines worth tracking as teams sort out their salary cap pictures, via Sportsnet’s Emily Sadler:

Anaheim Ducks — The Ducks are staring down roughly $13 million in expiring money tied to Chris Kreider and Alex Killorn, but they’re currently sitting on just $9 million in available cap space. Complicating matters further, Cutter Gauthier is due for a new contract, and Beckett Sennecke becomes extension-eligible next offseason. The math isn’t going to be simple.

Dallas Stars — Dallas is already pressed up against the ceiling and will need to find room to maneuver. Some relief is on the way: Tyler Seguin’s $9.85 million cap hit comes off the books. Meanwhile, Jason Robertson is playing on a one-year contract, and how the Stars perform this season will likely shape what happens with him next.

Colorado Avalanche — The Avalanche should free up close to $10 million next season as contracts belonging to Brent Burns, Nicolas Roy, Artturi Lehkonen and Scott Wedgewood come off the books. Don’t expect that money to sit around for long, though — most of it will likely go straight toward locking up Cale Makar on his next extension, whenever that deal comes together.

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Reporting and quotes via Sportsnet (David Morassutti, Emily Sadler).