Maple Leafs Sign 26-Year-Old Defenseman to 2-Year Contract
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, the franchise announced on September 5.
The 26-year-old blueliner spent last season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, recording 19 average points in 57 games, including three goals and four points during the team’s brief Calder Cup playoff run.
Rifai, known for his reliable defensive play more than for any flashy game, has developed into an all-situations player for the Marlies, contributing both on equal-strength plays as well as power-play units.
Over 126 career AHL games with the Toronto Marlies, Rifai has scored 35 points. Additionally, he made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs last season, appearing in two games as part of Toronto’s third defensive pairing.
Standing at 6’1″ and weighing 207 pounds, Rifai is a tough defensive defenseman with only 6 goals through 126 games in the AHL.
The blueliner joined the Leafs organization in 2022 on an AHL contract after four seasons at Harvard University, where he tallied 21 points in 71 career NCAA games.
Rifai was already under contract for the 2024–25 season before signing his extension, with this new deal set to take effect at the end of next season
