Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Per a new report from the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the Calgary Flames could look to trade Mackenzie Weegar, who would be the perfect Morgan Rielly replacement.
Rumours have emerged over the past few days that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Morgan Rielly’s partnership may be coming to an end.
Though if they are able to get Rielly off the books that means they are going to need a new #1 defender and there are no shortage of options but they’ll come at a cost and may not fill all the holes in the back end.
Weegar wants out? Calgary defenceman could be part of trade talks
However there is one player who has started to emerge as a potential trade target who might not be younger than Rielly, but certainly could add a lot more offensive and defensive help than he’s bringing to Toronto.
According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Calgary Flames’ teardown could lead to defenseman Mackenzie Weegar looking for a way out, which could leave the door open for a future trade:
Rasmus Andersson’s out; Blake Coleman is very likely to be moved; Nazem Kadri…there’s a good chance; if I’m Mackenzie Weegar, I’m looking at this group now going, hmm, why I am here for another five years?
Weegar has been a huge part of Calgary’s defensive corps for the last four seasons which also includes an incredible 20-goal, 52-point season in 2023-24.
This season hasn’t shown that same level of success though he can hardly be faulted. Weegar is the team’s minutes machine, plays both special teams, and hasn’t had a lot of help in net either.
In 56 games he has 20 points (3 goals, 17 assists) and a minus-32 but does have 129 blocks and 127 hits.
Weegar to replace Rielly? A much better idea when you think about it
Why he makes sense for Toronto despite his age is the fact that he loves to shoot and has a much harder and frankly, better shot than Rielly. Their speed is similar, but Weegar is a right-handed shot (a huge benefit).
Plus he’s still big at 6’0, 206 pounds so it’s not like Toronto is sacrificing size when they lose Rielly.
Here is how a potential defensive lineup would look with Weegar replacing Rielly as the #1:
McCabe – Weegar
Ekman-Larsson – Carlo
Benoit – Stecher
That gives Toronto a true powerhouse at the point who can play better defensively than Rielly and has Jake McCabe backing him up.
That moves Carlo down with Ekman-Larsson, and their combination of shutdown defense, size and scoring ability is a pretty solid #2 pairing and it leaves room for Benoit and Stecher to take over the third and play in less intense situations.
With all the talk about Nazem Kadri, Blake Coleman, and the Rasmus Andersson deal; Mackenzie Weegar could end up being the best piece of them all — at least for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Previously on Hockey Patrol
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17 MINUTES AGO|15 ANSWERS
Morgan Rielly’s replacement might be coming from Calgary
Do you think the Maple Leafs should make a play for Mackenzie Weegar to replace Morgan Rielly?