The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to keep defenceman Morgan Rielly in the NHL, according to Hockey Central insider Nick Kypreos.
The Leafs have a nine-game window to decide whether to send Rielly back to the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League.
According to Kypreos, Rielly is expected to stay with the Leafs beyond his 10th game as the team does not appear worried about burning a year off his entry-level deal.
The focus will now shift to the 42-game mark where Rielly would be officially credited as a full-year pro.
Rielly, 19, has been impressive throughout the pre-season and his first four games with the Maple Leafs
Heading into Tuesday’s action, he has amassed one assist and two penalty minutes with a minus-2 rating in four games with the Leafs.
The Leafs selected Rielly with in the first round (No. 5 overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.