As the NHL heads into the Olympic roster freeze, the Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to make a move-but don’t expect that silence to last. With the trade deadline looming shortly after the Olympic break, the Leafs are one of several teams poised to shake things up.
And while most of the trade chatter has centered around depth pieces or bottom-six adjustments, a surprising name has started to surface: Morgan Rielly.
Yes, that Morgan Rielly-the longest-tenured Maple Leaf, a cornerstone of Toronto’s blue line for over a decade. NHL analyst Nick Kypreos recently suggested that the Leafs could move Rielly in a bold prelude to an even bigger offseason splash. According to Kypreos, the plan would be to deal Rielly and then pursue Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh in free agency.
“What will happen is that you move Morgan out and you go sign Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Kypreos said. “Toronto boy, he’s got a bomb of a shot which you haven’t had in years.”
It’s a big claim, and if it plays out, it would mark a significant shift in Toronto’s defensive identity.
Rielly, now 31, is in his 13th season with the Leafs and has been a model of consistency throughout his career. He’s topped 20 assists every year he’s been in the league and remains a reliable puck-mover and power-play quarterback. This season, he’s logged 7 goals and 24 assists through 54 games-numbers that reflect his steady two-way presence.
But with the Leafs potentially looking to retool on the fly and open up cap space, Rielly could become a valuable trade chip. He’s still playing at a high level, and his experience and offensive upside would be attractive to any team looking to bolster its blue line for a playoff push.
If Toronto does move on from Rielly, it would make sense to target a high-impact replacement-and that’s where Raddysh comes into the picture.
At 29, Raddysh is having a breakout season with the Lightning. Through 48 games, he’s already piled up 17 goals and 34 assists, good for 51 points.
Those are career highs across the board, and he’s doing it in a year where Tampa has leaned on him more than ever. He’s never been a point-per-game player before, but right now, he’s producing like one-and that’s going to earn him a serious payday this summer.
For Toronto, Raddysh would bring a different dimension to their blue line. He’s got a booming shot, offensive instincts, and the kind of scoring touch from the back end that the Leafs haven’t had in years. If the front office sees him as a long-term fit, it could be the kind of bold, calculated move that reshapes the team’s defensive core.
Of course, none of this is set in stone. The Leafs still have games to play, a playoff race to navigate, and a fan base hungry for postseason success. But make no mistake: Toronto is gearing up for an active stretch-both leading up to the trade deadline and into the offseason.
Whether it’s moving on from a franchise mainstay like Rielly or chasing the upside of a surging Raddysh, the Leafs are at a crossroads. And the decisions they make in the coming weeks could define the next era of hockey in Toronto.