Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly is coveted by three teams in the Western Conference, says a prominent insider.
Rielly has four more years left on his contract at $7.5 million per season. After the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade this year, the team is expected to make significant changes to its roster. Rielly is the team’s longest-tenured player, having been drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2012, but with the team having had little playoff success in recent years, the team is expected to ask him to consider waiving his no-move clause this offseason after they hire their new general manager.
With Rielly potentially being on the move, NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period recently revealed which teams could be interested in the longtime defenseman.
According to Pagnotta, the Chicago Blackhawks, San Jose Sharks, and Seattle Kraken are all expected to reach out to the Maple Leafs about Rielly. Pagnotta also noted that former Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving spoke to at least one team at the trade deadline about potentially acquiring Rielly, though he ultimately stayed put.
Morgan Rielly Would Improve the Defense for the Blackhawks, Sharks, and Kraken
Although Rielly is not as effective as he once was, he still put up 11 goals and added 36 points in a lost season for the Maple Leafs, while playing in 78 games. With a change of scenery, there is every reason to believe that Rielly could be rejuvenated and potentially have a great season.
All three of the Blackhawks, Sharks, and Kraken missed the postseason this year, so all of these teams are expected to make changes to their lineups. All three of these teams will have the cap space to bring Rielly aboard, plus they all have the draft capital the Maple Leafs will ask for in a trade, making all three of these teams natural fits for the Canadian defenseman.
Maple Leafs Need to Retool Their Defense
The Maple Leafs need to retool their defense following a poor season where they missed the playoffs, and Rielly figures to be the odd man out should the team’s incoming GM convince him to waive his no-movement clause.
Looking at the Maple Leafs’ roster, the only sure-fire defenseman in their starting lineup next year are Brandon Carlo, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe, plus Chris Tanev, if he’s healthy. The team will have a few holes to fill in free agency or through trade to replace Rielly if he’s moved, plus players like Simon Benoit, Troy Stetcher, and Phillippe Myers all look to be replaceable.
When you have as disappointing a year as the Maple Leafs just had, nothing should be off the table. While a potential trade featuring captain Auston Matthews would certainly shake up the roster, a trade featuring Rielly seems much more reasonable. Although he has stated how much he loves playing in Toronto, if the team comes to him and asks him to move to a young team, he will have to listen, as it feels like the writing is on the wall when it comes to his future with the only NHL team that he’s ever known.
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