The chatter around Morgan Rielly has cooled, but the idea of a move has not gone away.
On the season finale episode of “The Chris Johnston’s Show,” The Athletic’s Chris Johnston said Toronto’s expectation remains that Rielly could still be dealt before next season, even if the noise has faded and GM John Chayka’s public comments point toward the defenseman staying put. Johnston said he still believes something is happening behind the scenes.
“I’m still curious to see what happens with Rielly,” Johnston said. “I continue to hear that the expectation is ‘You will still be moved before next season,’ but you know, as I mentioned in our previous trade discussions, some of the steam sometimes goes out of those talks when we get a little deeper into the summer.”
He also made clear he thinks Toronto is far from finished reshaping the roster.
“I still think that they’ll be looking at ways to change and shape the roster, so this is probably the one busiest offseason for the Leafs I can remember.”
That fits with the broader picture around the team. The Leafs want to keep making moves, and Chayka is still searching for ways to improve the roster through free agency or trades. Clearing cap space is part of that equation, and moving Rielly would help.
Rielly’s own situation has shifted over time. He had given the Maple Leafs a list of Western Conference teams he would be willing to join if Toronto found a deal.
That came months, and maybe years, after it was first reported that the team was considering trading him. Up until this season, his trade protection had been enough to shut down any possible move.
Now, it sounds like he has accepted the possibility of leaving.
Even so, a deal is not lining up easily. Anaheim and San Jose were both linked to Rielly’s list, but each club has already made other moves that complicate the fit.
The Sharks acquired Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers and signed Jacob Trouba from the Ducks. Anaheim, meanwhile, had to match a Leo Carlsson offer sheet and still needs to get Cutter Gauthier signed.
Cap room is part of the problem too. Neither the Ducks nor the Sharks has much space to absorb Rielly’s $7.5 million contract over the next four seasons.
So while Toronto may be open to moving him and Rielly may be willing to change teams, this is not something that looks close to happening.
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