The Toronto Maple Leafs finally found the spark they were looking for just before the Olympic break. Three straight wins, all fairly convincing, helped steady a season that had started to wobble. But there was one detail that stood out during that stretch, and it has quickly become part of a much bigger conversation. Those wins came without defenseman Morgan Rielly in the lineup.
In fact, since the start of the 2022-23 season, Toronto now owns a 24-5-1 record when Rielly is not playing. It is not a stat anyone expected to matter this much, but it has been hard to ignore.
Morgan Rielly (Image Credits: Imagn)
With NHL trade rumors starting to swirl, the Maple Leafs appear to be at a crossroads. According to HockeyBuzz, the San Jose Sharks have formally expressed interest in Morgan Rielly and have asked Toronto to circle back once they are ready to explore moving the defenseman.
From Toronto’s perspective, this is not a simple call. Rielly has spent his entire 13-year NHL career with the Maple Leafs and remains one of the longest-serving players on the roster. The 31-year-old is signed through 2030 at $7.5 million per season and carries a full no-move clause until 2028, giving him full control over any potential move.
On the ice, Morgan Rielly’s offensive production has been steady. He has recorded 31 points in 54 games this season. Defensively, though, the numbers have not been kind. No NHL player has been on the ice for more even-strength goals against this season than Rielly, who has been out there for 73 goals against at five-on-five.
As the Maple Leafs have already hinted that they may be sellers at the deadline, the possibility of a deeper change to the core is starting to feel real. Nothing appears imminent, but with outside interest growing and Toronto winning without him, Morgan Rielly’s future in Toronto is suddenly a storyline worth watching.