Maple Leafs' blueline battle just got interesting as Leafs sign 26-year-old defenseman
The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed 26-year-old defenseman Marshall Rifai to a multi-year contract extension.
The Maple Leafs announced early Thursday afternoon that they have signed Rifai to a one-way, 2 year contract starting in the 2025-26 season. The contract is a team-friendly deal at just $775,000 per season.
Given the timing of this signing, it seems unlikely that the Maple Leafs will continue to pursue Jani Hakanpaa, especially after rumors suggested concerns about the Finnish defender's overall health. Both defenders play a similar style, but Hakanpaa's is listed at 6'6'. That, combined with his NHL experience are the main differentiators.
Rifai, standing at 6'2 and weighing 205 pounds, is a strong on the puck type of defensive defender. He made his NHL debut last season, appearing in 2 games for the Maple Leafs, not looking out of place while he was there. Most of his time was spent with the AHL's Toronto Marlies, where he recorded 2 goals and 19 points in 57 games.
If Rifai can establish himself as a regular NHLer, he could turn out to be a significant value-add for the Maple Leafs, potentially similar to the emergence of Simon Benoit in the 2023-24 season. Expect Rifai to compete for a spot in the NHL lineup this season, as he appears to be on the verge of making the jump from the American Hockey League.
Source: HockeyDB
Marshall Rifai Statistics
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 5 | 239 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' blueline battle just got interesting as Leafs sign 26-year-old defenseman Will Marshall Rifai push for NHL games this season? | ||
| Yes | 124 | 51.9 % |
| No | 49 | 20.5 % |
| Maybe | 66 | 27.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
