The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed defenseman Marshall Rifai to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $775,000, beginning in the 2025-26 season. Rifai spent the previous season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, where he recorded 19 points in 57 games. During the Marlies’ brief Calder Cup playoff run, he contributed three goals and four points.
Over his AHL career of 126 games, Rifai has accumulated 35 points and established himself as a dependable all-situations player for the Marlies. The 26-year-old made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs last season, appearing in two games in a third-pairing role. Originally from Beaconsfield, Quebec, Rifai joined the Leafs organization on an AHL contract in March 2022 after four years at Harvard University, where he notched 21 points in 71 NCAA games.
Currently under contract for the 2024-25 season, this extension reflects Toronto’s confidence in Rifai’s potential to contribute at the NHL level and play significant minutes for the Marlies【26†source】.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have around $15.5 million in cap space heading into the 2024-25 season. Their current 20-man roster includes a total salary commitment of approximately $72.5 million, with forwards taking up $57.3 million, defensemen accounting for $13.6 million, and goaltenders at $1.61 million. The Leafs will need this remaining cap space to address their biggest needs: strengthening their defense with at least two top-four defensemen and potentially adding more depth in net【40†source】.
With this cap situation, the Leafs have limited flexibility and will need to manage their roster carefully to ensure they remain competitive while staying under the cap.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have several trade options as they navigate their cap situation and seek to improve their roster. Here are some potential moves the Leafs might consider:
1. **Trading Mitch Marner**: The Leafs have four main scenarios if they decide to trade Marner: an offseason hockey trade, a one-year rental trade, a trade deadline deal, or a salary cap dump trade. The options vary in complexity and potential returns, with each approach having its risks and benefits depending on timing and the pieces coming back to Toronto【47†source】.
2. **Other Trade Assets**: Key trade assets for the Leafs include players like William Nylander, who is in the last year of his contract, and prospects such as Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson. The Leafs may use these assets to secure immediate roster upgrades, particularly on defense or in goal, as they look to address their cap challenges【48†source】.
These moves aim to help the Leafs remain competitive while managing the cap effectively, balancing current needs with long-term strategy.
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