Morgan Rielly's Future With the Maple Leafs in Question After Insider's Surprising Take
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli uncovered a way the Maple Leafs could find a way to move on from defenseman Morgan Rielly and his expensive contract.
As Toronto looks ahead to the 2025-26 season, there are going to be a lot of changes come next season. Old faces are leaving, new faces are going to come in, and we could have a vastly different look from this season, for better or worse.
But one player through it all so far has been Morgan Rielly, and with the Maple Leafs looking to transition into a new era, could the long-time veteran be on the move?
He's regressed, not getting any younger and his contract is a massive overpayment at times.
Frank Seravalli: Toronto Should Move On From Morgan Rielly
For The Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli, he discussed a way the team could move on from an aging Rielly, and while it might hurt them in the short-term, explains this year is meant to sting a bit:
There's certainly a possibility [Rielly is traded] and it's a real conversation that needs to be had.
He's been there longer than anyone, the only guy left from 2013, and at this point in time two things stand out.
He's not just lost one step, but he's probably lost two and the biggest complaint or issue about Morgan Rielly's game is that he's not an effective PP1 quarterback, he's not going to age well.
That deal isn't going to age well; it's not the money it's the term, the term is the problem. If the Maple Leafs can find one team that needs a significant upgrade to their defense, I think you find a way to explore that.
Even if you look a little bit weaker, or even if your roster isn't as complete next season; I think you look at next season as a transition year and see it as trying to better the Toronto Maple Leafs going forward.
He's been there longer than anyone, the only guy left from 2013, and at this point in time two things stand out.
He's not just lost one step, but he's probably lost two and the biggest complaint or issue about Morgan Rielly's game is that he's not an effective PP1 quarterback, he's not going to age well.
That deal isn't going to age well; it's not the money it's the term, the term is the problem. If the Maple Leafs can find one team that needs a significant upgrade to their defense, I think you find a way to explore that.
Even if you look a little bit weaker, or even if your roster isn't as complete next season; I think you look at next season as a transition year and see it as trying to better the Toronto Maple Leafs going forward.
It would be a bit hard pressed to find a team willing to take on Rielly's $7.5M for the next five years, but there are a couple places who might bite.
Morgan Rielly's Potential Destinations
There are a lot of places that already have a very solid defensive core and wouldn't want to risk adding an aging and regressing Rielly to the midst.
But for a team like Vancouver or Chicago, it could make a lot of sense.
For the Canucks, Rielly gets a chance to be way closer to home, and allow him to have way less pressure to run the offense knowing Quinn Hughes is there.
Plus with Tyler Myers, Elias and Marcus Pettersson, and Filip Hronek, Rielly will get the right partner somewhere in the lineup.
They have some money coming off the books this summer, and have an open slot for Rielly if they wanna move on from Derek Forbert and Noah Juulsen.
Vancouver does hold quite a few draft picks that Toronto could ask for, or maybe ask for a sign and trade with Brock Boeser; exchanging a hit on defense for arguably the best free agent behind Mitch Marner.
That seems ideal for Rielly, but if he wanted to really try and make an impact, he could follow a teammate of his to the Windy City.
With the rumor that Marner is going to sign with Chicago given their roster and wide open cap space, they could also add Rielly to help give Marner an easier transition to the team.
Plus, it would help guys like Sam Rinzel, Wyatt Kaiser and Alex Vlasic learn a lot from a seasoned veteran like Rielly, who has been through it all.
He would also be a better fit than former Leaf T.J Brodie and help fill the void left by Connor Murphy if he leaves in free agency.
While there would be a bit more pressure to run things over in Chicago, there's no way he would receive the amount of backlash or criticism for his shortcomings, and it could help him heal after years of Toronto's media constantly hounding him.
Rielly's career, while not filled with the accolades that several of his contemporaries have, is still a great career, and would definitely be an asset all things considered.
In 873 games, the former 5th overall pick has 513 points (87G, 426A), 250 PIM, 1,203 blocks and 789 hits with a minus-25 rating in 22:08 TOI.
| POLL | ||
MAI 25 | 608 ANSWERS Morgan Rielly's Future With the Maple Leafs in Question After Insider's Surprising Take Should the Maple Leafs move on from Morgan Rielly? | ||
| Yes | 498 | 81.9 % |
| No | 110 | 18.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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