Defenseman Morgan Rielly has been a pillar on the team's blue-line since 2013. Always a fan favourite, he's been apart of the 18-wheeler that fell of a cliff but also the team that has gone to nine straight playoffs. His defensive play is clearly an issue but he could still be a reliable second-pairing defenseman on a Stanley Cup winning roster.
New general manager Ian Cunningham is stepping into a less-than-ideal situation in Atlanta. On one hand, he has some terrific pieces on both sides of the ball, a reasonable amount of cap space, and a fanbase that knows that 2026 is not a year where we're going to place outsized expectations after eight straight losing seasons. On the other hand, it's a roster with a ton of holes, some very expensive commitments, and a thorny quarterback situation.
The 35-year-old from Prague, CZE, signed a three-year, $12,000,000 AAV contract with a cap hit of $4,000,000 per season in 2023. His deal runs until the end of 2025-2026, when he will be an unrestricted free agent. $4,000,000 per season is a good price for a player with a strong defensive mindset and leadership qualities. As a veteran of the sport, three years is a perfect length as it's long enough for some stability but short enough that it minimises risk for the team.
