Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Toronto signs first-round pick Morgan Rielly to entry-level deal

Morgan Rielly

Morgan Rielly, center, a defenseman, stands with officials from the Toronto Maple Leafs after being chosen fifth overall in the first round of the NHL hockey draft on Friday, June 22, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

AP

The Kings aren’t the only team locking up their first-round pick today.

Toronto announced the signing of 2012 fifth overall selection Morgan Rielly to his three-year entry-level deal. At 6'1" 200 pounds, the Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) defenseman helps restock Toronto’s cupboard of prospect blue liners.

He made for an intriguing pick so high by the Leafs because he missed most of the 2011-12 season with a knee injury. At 18 years-old, expect to see Rielly back with Moose Jaw next season and for the Leafs to not rush him to the NHL. That could mean, however, that we see a nine-game audition from him early on to see what he might be all about before he goes back to juniors.