Morgan Rielly Has Two Western Conference Teams in His Sights as Trade Talks Heat Up

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still locked in contract conversations with Morgan Rielly. But the rumor mill is already spinning about where the veteran defenseman might land if those talks break down.

According to TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, who spoke with Jay Onrait, Rielly has essentially narrowed his preferred trade destinations to two Western Conference teams. The Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks are the frontrunners, LeBrun said. This isn’t the first time Rielly has signaled a preference for a West Coast move.

Rielly has been a Leaf since his rookie season in 2013. He’s been through the ups and downs, the playoff heartbreaks, the roster overhauls. But the current Toronto front office is clearly looking to shake things up, and trading a core piece like Rielly would send a major signal.

His contract runs through 2029-30 with a $7.5 million average annual value. That’s not cheap. But for a team needing a steady, minutes-eating defenseman, it might be worth the price tag.

What Rielly Brings

Last season, Rielly put up 11 goals and 36 points over 78 games. It wasn’t his best year. He’s a few seasons removed from a career-high 58-point campaign. Still, he’s a guy who can quarterback a power play and log heavy minutes. Teams don’t let players like that walk for nothing.

The Ducks make sense. Anaheim is still in a retooling phase, but they need help on the blue line. Adding a veteran like Rielly could stabilize their defensive corps while younger players develop.

San Jose is an even more obvious fit. The Sharks had an explosive offense last year led by Macklin Celebrini. But defensively, they ranked third-worst in the league in goals against. You can’t win when you’re coughing up goals at that rate. A player like Rielly wouldn’t fix everything, but he’d help.

LeBrun’s report doesn’t mean a trade is imminent. The Leafs are still talking with Rielly. The draft is coming up, and Toronto has to decide whether he’s part of the long-term plan or a trade chip to free up cap space and bring in fresh talent.

The only thing certain right now is that two West Coast teams are watching closely. And Rielly, for his part, seems open to the idea of a change in scenery.