Could a Morgan Rielly-Darnell Nurse Blockbuster Make Sense? One Former GM Thinks So
It’s not every day you hear a trade proposal that makes you stop and think, “Wait… would that actually work?” But that’s exactly what happened this week when former NHL general manager Doug MacLean floated a bold idea: a straight-up swap between two of Canada’s most scrutinized defensemen - Toronto’s Morgan Rielly and Edmonton’s Darnell Nurse.
MacLean dropped the hypothetical on The Real Kyper and Bourne Show, and while it’s just a suggestion from someone no longer in the GM seat, it speaks volumes about where both franchises are right now - and how much pressure is building on their respective blue lines.
Let’s break it down.
The Contracts: Big Money, Big Expectations
This wouldn’t be just any trade - it would be a cap-heavy blockbuster. Nurse is carrying an eight-year, $74 million deal with a $9.25 million annual cap hit through the 2029-30 season.
Rielly? He’s locked in at eight years, $60 million with a $7.5 million cap hit, also through 2029-30.
That’s a lot of money and a lot of term for two players who are both talented, but also face questions about whether they’re living up to their contracts.
MacLean didn’t hold back in his assessment. He called Rielly a “really good number two” defenseman but questioned whether he’s even a top-four guy at this point. As for Nurse, MacLean acknowledged the physical tools but pointed to consistency issues and the weight of that $9.25M cap hit.
“If I could be Nurse for Morgan Rielly, I’d do it in a heartbeat,” MacLean said.
That’s a strong stance, and it underscores the frustration that can come when high-priced defensemen don’t quite deliver on expectations - especially in hockey markets as intense as Toronto and Edmonton.
The Numbers So Far
This season, Rielly has been the more productive of the two. He’s put up 20 points in 24 games and continues to be a reliable puck mover for Toronto. While he’s not a shutdown guy, he’s one of the few Leafs defensemen consistently driving play from the back end.
Nurse, on the other hand, has 10 points in 26 games and sits at a minus-10 rating. He’s still bringing physicality - something Edmonton fans have come to expect - but his defensive lapses have been hard to ignore. For a team that’s already battling inconsistency in net, that’s a problem.
Why This Trade Idea Even Makes Sense to Talk About
Neither team is in a comfortable spot right now.
Toronto is sitting at .500, last in the Atlantic Division with an 11-11-3 record. They can score - that’s never been the issue - but they’re giving up far too many goals.
The departure of Mitch Marner to Vegas in the offseason took away a key playmaker, and injuries haven’t helped. The blue line has been a revolving door, and Rielly’s been one of the few constants.
Edmonton, meanwhile, is 11-10-5, and while they’ve made back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, their start this season hasn’t inspired much confidence. Defensive structure is shaky, goaltending has been hit-or-miss, and the Oilers are still searching for the kind of back-end consistency that can carry them through a long playoff run.
So when you look at it from a pure hockey-ops perspective, the idea of shaking things up with a one-for-one swap of top-pairing defensemen - both with term, both with cap hits that make your accountant sweat - doesn’t sound completely outlandish.
Would It Actually Happen?
Let’s be clear: there’s no indication that either team is actively considering this trade. This is a former GM tossing out a theoretical. But sometimes, those hypotheticals reflect real conversations that happen behind the scenes - or at least the kinds of conversations that should happen when two underperforming teams are looking for a spark.
For Toronto, bringing in Nurse would add size, grit, and a more physical presence on the back end - something the Leafs have lacked for years. For Edmonton, Rielly offers more offensive upside and smoother puck transition, which could help unlock more from their already elite forward group.
But there’s risk on both sides. Nurse’s contract is heavier, and if his inconsistency continues, it could become an anchor. Rielly, while more consistent offensively, hasn’t always been the most reliable in his own zone.
Still, when two teams with high expectations are struggling to find their rhythm, bold moves start to look more appealing.
Final Thought
This isn’t just about two players. It’s about two franchises trying to find answers in a season that’s already testing their depth, their identity, and their patience. Whether this particular trade ever gets more than a radio segment’s worth of attention, it highlights a bigger truth: both the Leafs and Oilers are in need of something different on defense - and time might be running out to fix it quietly.