NHL Insider Reveals How the Toronto Maple Leafs May Plan to Get Rid of Morgan Rielly
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly did not have a good season, and there are multiple NHL insiders who believe a trade could be coming.
With that being said, there are a lot of questions going into free agency. One of them includes Rielly, and whether or not his contract is something that the Leafs want to keep on the books.
Will the Toronto Maple Leafs trade Morgan Rielly?
Morgan Rielly is being paid
$7.5 million per season all the way until 2030, which is a bit of a disaster. Having said that, trading him will be difficult.
However, according to Frank Seravalli of The Daily Faceoff, there is absolutely a scenario in which the Leafs look to make it happen.
I think it's a real conversation that needs to be had. He's been there longer than anyone. At this point in time, two things stand out. He's not just lost one step, he's probably lost two. The biggest complaint about Morgan Rielly's game is he's not an effective PP1 quarterback. He's not going to age well. That deal is not going to age well. That term. It's not the dollar, it's the term. If the Leafs can find one team that has a significant need to upgrade their defense, I think you find a way to explore that and even if your roster isn't as complete next season, you look at next year as a year in transition.
There are plenty of teams out there who could use the extra help on defense, although the money and the term for Rielly are a bit of a problem.
Furthermore, his performance isn't bad enough to justify a full-on buyout. That would just put too much financial burden on the franchise.
Bringing Rielly back next season is certainly an option. Perhaps he just had a down year. That said, if he continues to decline, then the Leafs are in major trouble.
Hopefully, all sides can improve going into next season as this team tries to win a Stanley Cup.
Previously on TorontoLeafsInsider
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MAI 24 | 636 ANSWERS NHL Insider Reveals How the Toronto Maple Leafs May Plan to Get Rid of Morgan Rielly Should the Toronto Maple Leafs trade Morgan Rielly? |
YES | 473 | 74.4 % |
NO | 163 | 25.6 % |
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