Morgan Rielly at center of shocking trade buzz as Leafs eye major shakeup!

The Mitch Marner era in Toronto is now over and with that, the Maple Leafs are entering yet another chapter of retooling on the fly. General manager Brad Treliving has made it clear that change is coming. While much of the focus has been on reshaping the forward group, there’s growing speculation that one of the team’s most familiar faces could also be on the move.

Could defenseman Morgan Rielly be traded?

According to Nick Kypreos, Rielly remains a name to watch on the trade market this summer. The 31-year-old defenseman has five years remaining on his contract at a $7.5 million cap hit and holds a full no-movement clause, meaning he would have to approve any deal. Still, if the Leafs are serious about shaking up their identity, and if Rielly is open to a fresh start elsewhere, the possibility can’t be dismissed. Especially when Kypreos puts it this way:

“GM Brad Treliving is aiming to give his team a new look next season and change over part of the core. Given the blue line is in a good place and forward is where the Leafs have more questions and holes to fill, might they look to flip a blueliner for, ideally, a top-six scorer?”

Toronto’s blue line is relatively solid right now, especially with the recent acquisition of Henry Thrun from the San Jose Sharks in a cap-clearing move that sent Ryan Reaves the other way. But up front, the situation is murkier. The Maple Leafs are searching for answers in their top six, and flipping a high-end defenseman like Rielly could help them land a forward who can make an impact right away.

However, Rielly has been a key part of the Maple Leafs’ core since being drafted fifth overall in 2012. He’s played over 800 games for the franchise and has worn an ‘A’ on his sweater as a respected leader in the dressing room. Moving him would be a bold, emotionally loaded decision, but one that might align with Treliving’s push for a new identity following Marner sign and trade to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Rielly has yet to indicate whether he’d consider waiving his no-move clause. But in a summer already full of surprises, his name is one that we must keep an ear out for.