Morgan Rielly may end up being the piece that decides whether Toronto can chase Zach Werenski, but the window for John Chayka to make that swing is getting tighter by the day.
Werenski was a major offseason talking point after reports surfaced that he had asked out of Columbus and would consider a move. That noise has since been cooled by word that he is fully committed to the Blue Jackets, but the situation still feels fluid enough that a deal can’t be ruled out.
For Toronto, the appeal is obvious. Werenski would be the best defenceman the Maple Leafs have had since perhaps Borje Salming. He brings the kind of all-around game that can tilt a roster, and his offence can explode when paired with the kind of firepower Toronto rolls out every night.
His Norris-winning season showed exactly why he’s such a coveted target: 81 points in 75 games, with 22 goals and 59 assists, plus-7, 94 blocks and only 18 PIM. Over his career, the numbers stay loud - 465 points in 642 games, including 135 goals and 330 assists, along with 842 blocks and a plus-11.
But Toronto is racing more than one clock here. Werenski could settle back into Columbus.
The Blue Jackets could get hot. And the Maple Leafs would still have to outbid the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The rumour reports suggested Werenski was open to Toronto or Tampa Bay, though his preference was the Lightning. Whether that comes down to a better chance to win, financial reasons, or both, it’s clear he values competing at a high level.
There’s also the Auston Matthews angle. Werenski wanted the chance to play with his Team USA captain, and the two are known to be very close. They also share the same agent, which adds another layer to the picture, even if that could pay off later rather than sooner.
The biggest complication, though, is Werenski’s full no-movement clause. That gives him control, which means the path to any deal is as much about timing and opportunity as it is about raw trade value.
Toronto’s problem starts with Rielly. The Maple Leafs need to move his $7.5-million salary hit before they can really do anything significant, and certainly before they can chase a blockbuster like Werenski. Rielly’s trade list is down to four teams, and one of those destinations is already off the table because San Jose chose Darnell Nurse.
Werenski isn’t wildly more expensive than Rielly, but he’ll need a new deal in 2028 and that next contract is going to be hefty. Toronto may also have to include a sweetener if it wants to get a deal across the line, something it would rather avoid.
There have already been signs that the market for Rielly could open up, with Pittsburgh kicking tires and Philadelphia showing interest. If Toronto and Rielly are serious about finding a fit that works for both sides, a move could happen soon.
And if it doesn’t, the Leafs may watch the chance at Werenski slip away. The longer Chayka waits, the more likely his home run swing turns into a miss.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Face A Tough Reunion Question Fans Know Too Well
Michael Bunting is back on the market after finishing a three-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes and spending last season with both the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, which naturally puts Toronto in the conversation. He already has a track record with the Maple Leafs, and his best stretch came when he was part of the mix with Auston Matthews, making him the kind of familiar name that always gets a second look around this time of year.
The catch, as always for Toronto, is roster math. The Maple Leafs do not have the cap room to add him right now, so any serious pursuit would have to wait until they clear salary, and that is where the real intrigue begins. For a team that knows how quickly a reunion can go from appealing to complicated, Bunting is exactly the sort of player who forces those uncomfortable summer calculations. [Read more 🡒]
Morgan Rielly Trade Saga Just Took A Turn Leafs Fans Needed
Morgan Riellys future has become one of the more intriguing subplots around the Maple Leafs, with the veteran defenseman now at the center of a trade conversation that has moved well beyond simple due diligence. Toronto is exploring options on a player who still has four years left on his contract, and the presence of a no-movement clause means any deal would have to clear a major personal hurdle before it ever reaches the finish line.
What makes this latest turn notable is how the market around him has shifted. Interest from the West has faded as other clubs have made roster moves and run into salary-cap limits, leaving the Leafs to navigate a narrower field as they weigh what kind of return could even be available. For a team trying to manage both its present blue line and its long-term cap picture, Riellys situation remains one of the most consequential files on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Could Lose A Drafted Prospect For Nothing Soon
Joe Millers path from Harvard to the Maple Leafs organization has reached a tricky stage, and Toronto now has a decision to make on the 2020 draft pick. After four seasons at Harvard University, the unsigned center is still in the system, but his future with the club is far from settled as the team weighs its roster and contract limitations.
The Leafs have a crowded center pipeline and not much flexibility to work with, which makes Millers situation more complicated than a simple formality. If Toronto cannot fit him into its plans, the organization could be left trying to hold onto a drafted prospect it has followed for years, and the clock on that choice is already running. [Read more 🡒]