Morgan Rielly asked for one more chance and completely blew it with the Maple Leafs
Photo credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
Morgan Rielly really didn't give a complete effort this season and after word came out that he pleaded for one last shot, it seems like he's headed out of Toronto.
There's been a lot of chatter regarding who is headed out of town this summer when it comes to the Maple Leafs. We heard rumblings of names like Max Domi and Nick Robertson; even Auston Matthews isn't immune to the speculation.
But the one name who has consistently popped up for the team when it comes to trade speculation is none other than Morgan Rielly. Rielly has been a player who's seen it all with the Maple Leafs, and after 13 seasons you could say he's as engrained in the team as anyone in franchise history.
But with a lot of changes expected, he is likely one of the first names out and considering he already asked for more time - he blew his last chance.
Rielly asked for one more season last year while vowing to be better and we all know how that turned out
Darren Dreger noted that the Maple Leafs may have already given Rielly his last straw and he broke the came's back with it, as last year was supposed to be the one where he figured it all out:
Something would have to change for them not to approach Rielly and explore trade opportunities. It feels like it's time to move him out and give him a fresh start and see what we can get for this player.
He [Rielly] actually asked for last year to be the season to turn things around but as we saw, he didn't really accomplish that.
He [Rielly] actually asked for last year to be the season to turn things around but as we saw, he didn't really accomplish that.
That's a really big development to the entire Rielly situation as the Maple Leafs have already given him one last chance during the 2025-26 season and he didn't really impress anyone.
Rielly, 31, had only 36 points in 78 games this season and ended up with an unsightly minus-18 rating; while his offence normally overshadows his bad defensive game, this season was just the icing on the cake.
If he keeps struggling to perform then he's literally a waste of over $7-million dollars that could be used to bring in a proper blueliner.
With Chayka in charge, Morgan Rielly is about to get a complete teardown of his faults
Chayka is likely meeting with every player at some point and while Auston Matthews is a priority, getting a read on Rielly is equally important. They can't afford to let him give the team another mediocre season, and it's more or less asking where he wants to go; not if he's going to stay.
One team who could really benefit is the San Jose Sharks as they are going to need a few blue liners to fill those gaps and needing a veteran piece to help ease the transition for players like Sami Dickinson he makes perfect sense.
Plus the Sharks would be able to afford his contract and allow the Maple Leafs to use that extra cap space to sign Darren Raddysh or trade for Dougie Hamilton.
Knowing how analytical Chayka is going to be, unless Rielly can convince him to give him one more shot in a much, much more reduced role it's more than likely that he is going to be dealt away - perhaps as early as the 2026 Draft.
There was a lot of hope and excitement around Morgan Rielly and while he did a fine job at times, he also struggled heavily at the worst possible ones.
It's not personal, it's just business and Chayka has a lot of work to do starting now.
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Shane Doan and the Maple Leafs have officially parted ways and he is already interviewing for another team
Shane Doan and the Maple Leafs have officially parted ways and he is already interviewing for another team
Previously on Hockey Patrol