The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the Olympic break riding a much-needed wave of momentum. After a stretch that saw the team struggle to find consistency, they’ve now rattled off three straight wins - and they did it without one of their most familiar faces on the ice: Morgan Rielly.
That detail might’ve flown under the radar if it weren’t for the numbers. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Leafs are now 24-5-1 when Rielly isn’t in the lineup.
That’s not a typo. And going back even further, the record improves to 23-5-1 since 2020.
It’s the kind of stat that turns heads - not because it’s expected, but because it’s impossible to ignore.
Rielly is currently out with an upper-body injury that flared up during Toronto’s comeback win over the Vancouver Canucks. The team hasn’t provided a clear timetable for his return, only saying the injury still needs further evaluation. With the Olympic break looming and the NHL trade deadline not far behind, the timing couldn’t be more intriguing.
And here’s where things start to get complicated. According to reports, the San Jose Sharks have already reached out to Toronto about Rielly, expressing formal interest and asking the Leafs to reconnect if they’re open to exploring a move. That’s no small development, especially considering Rielly’s status within the organization.
He’s been a fixture in Toronto for over a decade - 13 seasons, to be exact. At 31 years old, he’s one of the longest-tenured players on the roster and a key part of the team’s leadership group.
He’s also signed through 2030 with a $7.5 million cap hit and a full no-move clause until 2028. Translation: if anything does happen, it’ll be on his terms.
On the ice, Rielly continues to produce offensively. He’s posted 31 points through 54 games this season, consistent with the kind of puck-moving, offensive-minded defenseman he’s always been.
But defensively, the picture is murkier. No player in the league has been on the ice for more even-strength goals against this season than Rielly - 73 goals allowed at five-on-five.
That stat, paired with the team’s strong record in his absence, is fueling a larger conversation. The Maple Leafs have already hinted that they could be sellers at the deadline. And while there’s no indication that a Rielly trade is imminent, the fact that teams are circling - and that Toronto is winning without him - makes his future in blue and white a storyline that’s rapidly gaining traction.
For now, the Leafs will head into the break with a bit of swagger, three wins in their back pocket, and a roster that’s proving it can adapt. But with trade chatter heating up and a key piece of the core sidelined, the second half of the season could bring more than just lineup changes - it might bring a shift in the franchise’s long-term identity.