Morgan Rielly's Future With the Leafs in Question After Exit Interview Revelation
Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly's no movement clause has been a hot topic of discussion recently, and a new report shows he's been asked to potentially wave it during his exit interview.
While the Maple Leafs figure how to approach the next few months of the offseason and training camp, one focal point is going to be the future of Morgan Rielly with the team.
Their longest-tenured player, Rielly struggled a bit last season but managed to pull together a respectable season although he looked a bit slow at times, and wasn't the power play quarterback the team desperately needed, leading to a demotion.
Morgan Rielly asked to waive no-movement clause: David Pagnotta
There's chatter about him potentially being traded, but with a no-movement clause, he's got all the say in whether or not he leaves. But according to a new report from The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, Toronto's at least asking him to think about it.
Speaking on Leafs Morning Take on Friday, Pagnotta explained that during Rielly's exit interview with Toronto at the end of the season, the team asked him to think about moving his NMC in the future, or potentially soon:
I think there was a brief discussion at exit meetings with Morgan Rielly where they seemed to say 'You have a full no-move, where's your head at?'
How that conversation went fully I don't know, but I'm led to believe according to the people that I've talked to, that type of discussion happened.
How that conversation went fully I don't know, but I'm led to believe according to the people that I've talked to, that type of discussion happened.
It's understandable that Toronto and GM Brad Treliving want Rielly to at least ponder a potential trade, given their need for a DNA change, and moving on from Rielly would do just that.
Rielly might need to leave if Toronto wants to truly change things up
Plus, as much as Rielly has been a mainstay for the Maple Leafs, sometimes it's best to let things go. It's a new era for Toronto and Rielly, as great as he can be, is slowly regressing.
With a desperate need to add a proper #1 defenseman who can play in both ends, Rielly's departure would open the way to bring in a player like Dougie Hamilton, who would add much more defensive punch, physicality, and a comparable level of offense.
But through his 12 years in Toronto, he's been suffered all the ups and downs that come with such a long career, and he's been around since before Auston Matthews; he is as blue and white as anyone.
In his 873 games with the Leafs, Rielly has 513 points (87 goals, 426 assists) with over 1200 blocks, though holds a minus-25 for his career.
At $7.5-million for the next five years, and regression in the forefront, it might be time to gauge interest for Rielly and see if they can work out a deal that gives him a chance to compete, and maybe be a bit closer to home.
So while nothing is certain, and Pagnotta can't say for sure whether Rielly will entertain a move, where there's smoke there's fire.
And Brad Treliving might be ready to burn it all down.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 12 | 4762 ANSWERS Morgan Rielly's Future With the Leafs in Question After Exit Interview Revelation Do you think Morgan Rielly will get traded by the Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 3236 | 68 % |
| No | 1526 | 32 % |
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