The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that they have signed defenceman Marshall Rifai to a two-year extension.
🖊 We’ve extended defenceman Marshall Rifai to a two-year contract extension, beginning in the 2025-26 season
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 5, 2024
According to the press release, the extension will kick in for next season as he was set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at year’s end. It will be a $1.55 million contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $775,000, meaning he will come in right at the league minimum salary.
This is a worthy extension for the 26-year-old, who has made significant progress in his development since joining the organization in 2022. The most recent campaign saw him get into two NHL games where he went scoreless while recording four hits and a block. Afterwards, he was a frequent call-up candidate when the Leafs ran into injury trouble but mostly sat in the press box.
Rifai appeared in 57 AHL games in 2023-24, during which time he registered 19 points (two goals and 17 assists), which tied him for fourth among Marlies defencemen in points with Mikko Kokkonen. Although the Marlies disappointed in the playoffs losing in three games to the Belleville Senators, he was one of the few bright spots as his four points (three goals and one assist) had him tied for first on the team in playoff scoring alongside Kyle Clifford.
Getting that short stint with the Leafs in February appeared to have lit a spark in Rifai as he was among the Marlies’ most productive blueliners in the latter half of the season. As a result, he is now in line to get a longer look in the NHL this coming year because the team knows he can play a dependable shutdown game while dishing out hits, blocking shots, and not being a liability in his own end.
If it were not for the fact he is LHD and standing at 6’0″, you could argue that he probably could have been on the NHL roster a lot sooner than he did. Regardless, he is well on track to be the next successful graduate of the Marlies development akin to Justin Holl.
This extension signals the Leafs’ commitment to Rifai’s development and rewards him for the great strides he has made in the two short years since singing with their AHL affiliate. All of which is to say Leafs Nation can expect to be hearing his name a lot more over the next three seasons.
