Insider Floats Blockbuster Leafs-Flames Defenseman Swap Proposal
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
NHL Insider Nick Kypreos alludes that the Maple Leafs could make a massive deal by swapping defenseman Morgan Rielly for Calgary's Rasmus Andersson.
As Toronto decides how to approach their summer offseason plans, one person who has had their name thrown around is Morgan Rielly.
On a big deal, but seemingly regressing; the team might very well be willing to part ways with their longest tenured player.
Nick Kypreos believes Morgan Rielly could be traded
Nick Kypreos believes so, and on his off-season trade board he lists Rielly at #2 as a player to watch this summer.
He writes:
Rielly is not on this list because anything is imminent or guaranteed to happen, but he is the logical first place the Leafs could look if they want to make deeper changes to the roster.
The Leafs want to add another puck-moving, skating defenceman regardless of whether Rielly stays or goes. How high level of a defenceman they will add may depend on their ability to move Reilly's contract.
I believe the team will, at some point, begin exploring their options on what to do with Rielly.
His contract - five more years, $7.5 million AAV - is not as onerous as Matthews' or William Nylander's, which would be extremely complicated trades to pull off.
Rielly, 31, does have a full no-movement clause and hasn't made an indication he's willing to waive, so there would need to be a mutual understanding that a change of scenery is in everybody's best interests.
I'd start with a team near his hometown like the Canucks. - Nick Kypreos
The Leafs want to add another puck-moving, skating defenceman regardless of whether Rielly stays or goes. How high level of a defenceman they will add may depend on their ability to move Reilly's contract.
I believe the team will, at some point, begin exploring their options on what to do with Rielly.
His contract - five more years, $7.5 million AAV - is not as onerous as Matthews' or William Nylander's, which would be extremely complicated trades to pull off.
Rielly, 31, does have a full no-movement clause and hasn't made an indication he's willing to waive, so there would need to be a mutual understanding that a change of scenery is in everybody's best interests.
I'd start with a team near his hometown like the Canucks. - Nick Kypreos
Rielly has made it known that he has no intentions of moving his no-movement clause, although Kypreos believes he should at least entertain the idea, given how much flak he's gotten over the past few years:
Why would you want to stay somewhere where you don't have a future of people believing that you're part of the solution? - Nick Kypreos
So if Toronto were to convince Rielly, what is the best course of action?
Toronto swaps defensemen: Morgan Rielly for Rasmus Andersson
Sliding just under Rielly at #3 on Kypreos' list, Andersson is a big unknown out in Calgary, and with questions regarding his future, there could be a chance Brad Treliving has interest in bringing him in.
Kypreos writes:
Rasmus Andersson is a terrific defender, a Team Sweden mainstay, but he'll turn 29 shortly after the next NHL season begins and is entering the final year of his contract with the Flames.
Eric Francis wrote that Andersson's season-end media availability «certainly felt like a farewell press conference,» and Calgary could very well look to move out Andersson over the summer months.
There's a belief that Brad Treliving had interest in bringing Andersson to Toronto at the 2025 trade deadline: could that be re-examined, and could Rielly be involved? - Nick Kypreos
Eric Francis wrote that Andersson's season-end media availability «certainly felt like a farewell press conference,» and Calgary could very well look to move out Andersson over the summer months.
There's a belief that Brad Treliving had interest in bringing Andersson to Toronto at the 2025 trade deadline: could that be re-examined, and could Rielly be involved? - Nick Kypreos
Andersson would still bring the offensive help, although he's not a pure playmaker. He gets his fair share of assists off point shots, but he's had 169 points over the last four seasons.
He's also an upgrade over Rielly defensively, and isn't afraid to put his body on the line, having averaged over 160 blocks per season over his last four.
That's a huge boost to Toronto's lineup and identity change, he's a right-handed shot and while he is expected to get a raise, won't be nearly as bad a deal as Rielly's.
He makes $4.5M now, and that will easily grow to $6-7M per season, but for his type of production and the need for a change, he seems like a fantastic replacement.
Andersson for what it's worth is also unsure of his time left, and relented that it's been a good run; and a change of destination could be on the horizon:
I want to be honest, but I don't know what's going to happen.
But I hope the fans know that I loved every second of it, and I've never taken it for granted.
There's a lot of good young players in the organization, and, you know, there's only a certain amount of right-shot defensemen you can have on the team.
I wish I could say, 'hey, yeah, I'm signing July 1,' or 'I'm getting traded July 1,' but I can't at the moment. I just don't know. - Rasmus Andersson
But I hope the fans know that I loved every second of it, and I've never taken it for granted.
There's a lot of good young players in the organization, and, you know, there's only a certain amount of right-shot defensemen you can have on the team.
I wish I could say, 'hey, yeah, I'm signing July 1,' or 'I'm getting traded July 1,' but I can't at the moment. I just don't know. - Rasmus Andersson
Bringing him aboard would also send Rielly closer to home, and while it isn't exactly Vancouver; it's close enough and he'll get a chance to play with much less pressure with the Flames (and reunite with long-time teammate Nazem Kadri).
So while it seems like it might be a very tough deal to work out, the framework is there for Calgary and Toronto to swap defensemen.
If Brad Treliving wanted to change the DNA, then getting rid of the oldest piece of the puzzle is the boldest way to do it.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 8 | 420 ANSWERS Insider Floats Blockbuster Leafs-Flames Defenseman Swap Proposal Should the Maple Leafs swap Morgan Rielly for Rasmus Andersson? | ||
| Yes | 341 | 81.2 % |
| No | 79 | 18.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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