Reports Suggest Trade Market for Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly Is Heating Up – The Hockey Writers –

The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into an offseason with a ton of uncertainty. For the first time in a decade, they’ve missed the playoffs. And, after how the 2025-26 season played out, just about every player on the team is under the microscope. According to reports from NHL insider David Pagnotta, Morgan Rielly is right near the top of that list. He was a minus-18 on the season and part of a blue line that finished near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories. Before they move on from Rielly, though, they will need to hire a new general manager.

If the new GM decides to actually move him, a few Western Conference teams have been reported to be interested in him.

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks feel like the best match amongst the teams reported to be interested in him. They don’t have many defensemen signed long-term, and since they’ve got plenty of cap space to work with, Rielly could be an option for them. They need someone who can play big minutes and help guide a younger group on the blue line, and that’s something that Rielly is familiar with from his early years in Toronto.

From the Maple Leafs’ side, this is where it gets appealing. San Jose is one of the few teams that could take on the full $7.5 million cap hit without forcing Toronto into any salary retention. However, they will likely need to sweeten the pot to make the deal work. This makes a trade with the Sharks the most likely and easiest path; they just shouldn’t expect much in terms of a return.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks are in a similar spot. They’ve got the cap space, and their defence has needed help for a while now. The idea here would be to bring in a veteran who can attempt to settle things down while mentoring their younger defensemen, like Kevin Korchinski and Artyom Levshunov.

The big question is the no-movement clause. That’s what makes this one tricky. Chicago is still rebuilding, and it’s fair to wonder if Rielly would want to go from one team outside the playoffs to a Blackhawk team that is arguably in a worse position. Then again, if they pitch it as a chance to step back into a true top-pair role and lead that up-and-coming group, maybe that’s something he considers.

Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken are a bit of a different case. They’re not quite in the same spot as San Jose or Chicago. They’ve been more competitive, but they could be looking for some more stability on the left side.

This one comes down to the numbers. Seattle already has a fair bit of money tied up on the back end, so fitting in another $7.5 million isn’t simple. That’s where salary retention comes into play. If Toronto is willing to retain a portion of the deal and add a pick to make it work, then it could get across the finish line. On top of that, Rielly could take the idea of a trade to Seattle more seriously, considering how close it is to his hometown of Vancouver.