Morgan Rielly's trade list included only Western Conference teams but the Pittsburgh Penguins seem to be the team that keeps coming up in trade rumours.
Rielly's future has been a hot-button topic this offseason as reports have come out that state Toronto wants to trade him, then backed off when they couldn't find a deal. Word then arrived that Rielly had expanded his options and that the Penguins and Flyers were now interested.
That would make Rielly's list consist of Anaheim, San Jose, Seattle, and Edmonton for sure and now potentially Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It's a wider scope than we were told, and as far as the Maple Leafs were told by Rielly - that list is strictly Western teams only.
Toronto was only given teams out West which makes Pittsburgh the clear outlier
San Jose was the team most heavily linked to Rielly and while they acquired Darnell Nurse ($9.25-million cap hit) instead, they may be in the market for a puck-moving defender as well leaving Rielly as a potential option still ($12.9-million in cap space).
On the inverse, Nurse's trade list was explicitly Eastern Conference teams (Boston, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh), but then opened up his choices and a trade was facilitated nearly instantly. Where he wanted to head East but stayed out West, the same may happen to Rielly in the East - to one of the same teams nonetheless.
Then there was Anaheim though with their spending spree this summer in keeping both Leo Carlsson and Pavel Mintyukov ($25.2-million combined cap hit) it seems less likely they can afford Rielly's $7.5-million cap hit for the next four seasons.
Seattle is interesting considering they are in a bit of a tough spot. They aren't exactly a team who is immediately competitive in the Pacific Division given that there's teams like Anaheim, San Jose, Vegas and Los Angeles all fighting each other for the top three but they do have $18.41-million in cap space and only three defenders locked up past 2027-28.
Edmonton is also a team who is looking for a bit of offensive help on the backend to supplement Evan Bouchard and Ryan Shea.
Rielly would certainly have his fair share of chances to help out with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl around - not to mention former teammate Zach Hyman but have less than $5-million in cap space so they need to move money out too.
Philadelphia was also interested in Rielly and have the space to add him ($14-million in cap space), plus with their core locked up long-term already could possibly make a move but are pretty full already.
Pittsburgh is the odd one out on paper and while it isn't officially stated that Rielly wants to go there, if he's expanded his options and is looking for a much easier transition then it makes perfect sense given his history with Kyle Dubas, Nick Robertson, and others.
Rielly is in charge of his own fate and that's the key factor
But again, this all comes down to Rielly's decision. He's got full trade protection for the next two seasons, so if there's a trade happening before then, it's his call. After that, it drops down to a 10-team no trade list which makes it a lot easier, but not guaranteed.
He very well may not want to leave whatsoever and Toronto is stuck with a $7.5-million cap hit for the next four years, banking on the hope that year after year the regression levels off and doesn't get any worse.
Pittsburgh isn't a bad decision though considering he would be familiar with several players, have a smaller spotlight, and has a GM who knows him better than anyone and wants to see him succeed.
This is less of a demand of Rielly to give Toronto places he wants to go and more of a suggested list from the veteran as to where he would prefer to go if a deal arises. They aren't forcing him out the door, but there's clear intent to find a deal eventually.
We heard talk that Toronto would refuse to add pieces to move Rielly's deal, but there's a feeling around the league that a trade while not imminent, is coming.
Fans, insiders, and even the Maple Leafs thought that this entire saga would be over by now, but the only one who can make that decision is Rielly himself - and Toronto is working on his time, not theirs.
What team will Morgan Rielly be traded to (if he is)?
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