Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, it could be time for the Maple Leafs to move on from Morgan Rielly and it feels like a fresh start might be on the horizon.
Though one name who likely won’t be dealt barring some miraculous turnaround is Morgan Rielly, who came into this season with high expectations but hasn’t delivered at all.
Morgan Rielly’s time with Toronto could be ending sooner than expected
There was a discussion last year about a potential parting of ways, however the team decided to give him this year to turn it around. Without having done so, we could be coming back to that conversation — and one analyst believes it’s inevitable.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was on FirstUp and explained that Toronto’s conversation with Rielly last year and his performance this season may lead to them moving on towards a different direction:
There was real discussion at the top between Brendan Shanahan, Brad Treliving, and likely Craig Berube about whether this was the offseason to approach Morgan Rielly about waiving his trade protection. They were undecided.
At his exit interview, Rielly was emotional. He knew his season was not good enough. It was genuine, and that may have shifted management’s thinking. They saw a leader and chose to give him more time.
He reportedly had a strong offseason, but it has not translated on the ice. From the midpoint of the season, his game has dipped further.
Dreger then noted that the Maple Leafs are going to be patient and find the trade that works best for themselves and Rielly, and not rush into a deal:
That said, it’s unlikely Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving will approach his agent, JP Barry, without a trade already lined up. It is similar to the Vancouver situation with Tyler Myers. You have to find a fit first.
With a young family involved, it has to reach a point where Rielly decides it is time for a fresh start, and it almost feels like the organization may need that too.
So if Toronto were to move on from Rielly, what is their end goal?
If they were to want to give Rielly a fresh start, then sending him closer to home might be a good start. Vancouver might be an option but it’s hard to know if they wanna take on a 31-year old Rielly at his current deal.
As much as it might sting, moving on from Rielly really is the best thing
Toronto could retain on that however it handicaps their ability to replace him with a true #1, and if they are paying upwards of nearly $4-million to get him off the books; it’s tough to swallow losing that much cap space.
That moves him to a team that can afford him and frankly, will need him then gives Toronto the ability to find a spot for someone like a Dougie Hamilton, or find a deal elsewhere.
You can fault Rielly for his shortcomings all you want, but this is a guy who has been through it all and has seen the highs and lows of the Maple Leafs. He’s crucial as a leader but his performance leaves a lot to be desired right now.
This season he has 31 points in 56 games which is respectable but also comes with a minus-19, 66 giveaways to only 16 takeaways and a dwindling possession rate. This isn’t 2018-19 anymore.
If he managed to pull it together then there is a strong chance he would earn another opportunity but with serious changes on the horizon, Rielly might be as good as gone.
It’s nothing personal though, just business. And it’s time Toronto finally got around to making some.
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Morgan Rielly trade talk resurfaces as Maple Leafs weigh their next step on his future
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