Bold Trade Proposal Swaps Morgan Rielly for Canadian Rival's Star Defenseman
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
A stunning trade proposal from Heavy.com has the Maple Leafs making a trade involving Morgan Rielly in order to bring in Edmonton's Darnell Nurse.
All the talk about Morgan Rielly potentially being traded hasn't really quieted down since it started this summer. Advised by the team that he could be on the move at some point, both sides are trying to gauge what's best for both parties though with Rielly's no movement clause that's easier said than done.
Linked to a potential blockbuster involving Pittsburgh's Erik Karlsson as well as New Jersey's Dougie Hamilton, there's been no shortage of speculation that would see the Maple Leafs' longest tenured player headed somewhere else.
The Proposal Explained
A new trade proposal from Heavy.com certainly has an idea of what a Rielly swap could look like, however it wouldn't involve bringing in that offensive replacement but instead beefing up the defense even more with Edmonton's Darnell Nurse.
The article refers to both players potentially needing a change of scenery, and they share a lot more in common than at first glance:
Nurse and Rielly have quite a bit in common. Firstly, they're both long-term defensemen drafted by their organizations. They both have contracts going into the 2030s. But, more than anything else, they're both players in need of fresh starts.
This, of course, isn't to say they're bad defenders by any means. Rielly and Nurse are both capable of working the top line on high-powered offenses. This trade proposal gives both players a change of scenery in order to better facilitate their game.
Sometimes, all an athlete needs is a chance to start over somewhere else.
This, of course, isn't to say they're bad defenders by any means. Rielly and Nurse are both capable of working the top line on high-powered offenses. This trade proposal gives both players a change of scenery in order to better facilitate their game.
Sometimes, all an athlete needs is a chance to start over somewhere else.
How It Would Impact the Leafs' Blue Line
Plus, Nurse would give the Maple Leafs a Top-4 that is genuinely frightening alongside Chris Tanev, Jake McCabe and Brandon Carlo; a group of tough as nails, physical and recklessly selfless defenders who can truly change the game at a moment's notice.
For what it's worth too, Rielly also realizes that things might end up changing, but would rather not spend time worrying until something comes up:
There's always change. Every summer, every offseason is different.
As a player, I think sometimes it's best not to speculate on what may or may not happen. So, for us, I mean for me individually, you want to focus on what you can do to come back a better version of yourself at the next training camp.
As a player, I think sometimes it's best not to speculate on what may or may not happen. So, for us, I mean for me individually, you want to focus on what you can do to come back a better version of yourself at the next training camp.
So if Rielly were to leave, how would the Leafs defense pan out?
Well you'd be looking at a team that has much less offensive potential on the back end, but replaces it with sheer physicality and the ability to quickly transition out of their zone for offense.
That means the forward group is going to have to help out a little bit more to fight for loose pucks in the defensive zone, but when you have Tanev, McCabe and potentially Nurse all giving the opponents headaches, the forwards will have an easier time hopefully on breaking out.
For Rielly, he gets to play with a bit less pressure to run the offense on the back end given Evan Bouchard is there, and he would be a perfect supplementary option especially with a guy like Brett Kulak beside him who can really help his defensive shortcomings.
Nurse's one issue is his contract, as he makes about $2.5-million more than Rielly currently does and they will need Edmonton to take on a bit of salary potentially (unless they wanna take David Kampf off our hands) and would need to also waive his NMC.
But beyond that, it seems like Darnell Nurse would offer a fantastic alternative to Morgan Rielly, not because he would bring the points, but instead the pain; which is something Toronto has tried to focus on this summer.
Plus, he'd be another player coming back home.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 27 | 1106 ANSWERS Bold Trade Proposal Swaps Morgan Rielly for Canadian Rival's Star Defenseman Would you trade Morgan Rielly for Darnell Nurse? | ||
| Yes | 433 | 39.2 % |
| No | 673 | 60.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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