Morgan Rielly spent much of the offseason in the rumor mill, but the Toronto Maple Leafs never ended up moving their longest-serving defenseman. With training camp nearing, he’s still on the roster, and the sense around the team is that a deal never quite came together.
Rielly is in the middle of a $60 million contract that runs four more years and carries a $7.5 million cap hit. Multiple teams checked in on him, but the trade chatter never turned into an actual move, and he now looks set to stay in Toronto for this season.
On the “First Up” podcast, NHL insider Chris Johnston said the Leafs simply didn’t land the kind of return they were looking for. He also stressed that this wasn’t about the organization losing faith in Rielly or seeing him as a problem.
“…I mean, my understanding is that Morgan’s in a really good place with everything. At the end of last year, the Leafs missed the playoffs.
Then, when he does his locker clean-up interviews, I thought Morgan was pretty honest. It basically just said you had to be prepared for the possibilities," Johnston said.
Johnston added:
"The Leafs never got anything that made sense for them because this wasn’t a case of management not seeing value in him or thinking you had to get rid of him because he was a problem. It was more, I think, that there were so many balls in the air.
There were so many things happening with the roster that they obviously considered a lot of different things that didn’t happen. And once we got deeper into the summer beyond the draft, there was still a need for Morgan Rielly on this team.”
Rielly’s agent, J.P. Barry, also addressed the situation on the “Rick and Dhaliwal” podcast and said there really were plenty of conversations about a possible move. Barry said Rielly would have faced a tough adjustment if a trade had gone through because he loves being a Leaf.
“You know, I mean, he loves being a Leaf, so that would have been a difficult trade. There were a lot of discussions around a trade for him, but I think the best fit after Toronto ultimately kind of made their moves, they didn’t get another defenseman either,” said Barry.
He added:
“They need a strong defense. So I think Morgan fits in there.
I think it’s going to be a great, great season for him. He’s excited, and it’s kind of a new-look Leafs, so he’s excited about it.”
Rielly has now spent 13 seasons with Toronto. Last year, the 32-year-old recorded 36 points, scoring 11 goals and adding 25 assists, in 78 games.
In Other News...
Leafs Have A Blue Line Battle Fans Should Be Watching
The Maple Leafs have added another name to the mix on the blue line, bringing in right-handed defenseman Nick Blankenburg on a professional tryout as training camp opens. It is the kind of move teams make when they want a closer look before making any commitments, and in this case it gives Toronto another option to sort through as it tries to firm up its defensive depth.
Blankenburg arrives with NHL experience and a real chance to push for more than just an extended look, but the path is crowded. Philippe Myers and Troy Stecher are also in the picture, which turns this into one of the more interesting camp battles to watch as the Leafs sort out who can handle a reserve role and who can actually stick when the roster decisions get serious. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Get Their Answer In Connor Hellebuyck Speculation
Connor Hellebuycks trade request out of Winnipeg has already stirred plenty of conversation around the league, but the Maple Leafs are not part of the chase. Torontos goaltending situation has been steady enough that there is no obvious need to jump into a market clouded by uncertainty, especially with reports suggesting Hellebuyck is not keen on landing with a Canadian club.
For the Jets, the problem is bigger than simply finding a buyer. The offers around Hellebuyck have been described as underwhelming, and his stated preference only narrows the field further. For the Leafs, though, the answer appears simple enough: they can watch the speculation from a distance and stick with the tandem they already trust. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Knies Could Be Headed For A Leafs Role Fans Wont Like
Matthew Knies is back from injury and still looks like a significant piece of the Maple Leafs forward mix, even with trade talk continuing to hover around the roster. His blend of size, skill and straight-line power gives Toronto a player who can fit in more than one role, and that flexibility is part of why he keeps showing up in lineup discussions as the Leafs sort through their options.
The wrinkle is that the numbers suggest Knies has not been equally effective with every teammate, which opens the door to a placement fans may not love. One possibility is a lower-line role built around a checking unit, where his offense and physical game could be paired with Nick Paul and Colton Sissons, giving Toronto a different kind of look while trying to get more out of Knies in situations that fit his strengths. [Read more 🡒]