The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to lock up their best, young defenseman long term as contract extension talks with 22-year-old blue-liner Morgan Rielly are underway, TSN's Darren Dreger reports.
"Short term seems unlikely. A longer term of five or six years seems more likely," Dreger said, adding Rielly could earn "somewhere between $4.5 million and upwards of $5.5 million per year."
The only player to appear in all 82 of his team's games this season, Rielly led all Toronto defensemen with 36 points, while setting new career highs in goals (nine), assists (27), and shots on goal (167).
The former fifth overall draft pick will become a restricted free agent this summer.
