Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
David Pagnotta has named the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks as potential fits for Morgan Rielly – San Jose has $10 million coming off the books meanwhile Anaheim has over $40 million in cap space.
That means Toronto may not need to retain a single dollar.
According to David Pagnotta of ‘The Fourth Period’, both the Ducks and Sharks fit as options for Rielly, who has nine goals, 24 assists, & 33 points in 68 games this season for Toronto.
Rielly, who is on a $7.5-million AAV contract until 2030, has been linked as a potential departure from the Leafs as the team eyes down a potential rebuild following an underwhelming season.
Sharks, Ducks viewed as fits for Rielly as a trade target
The San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, two young teams having been on offense, could use a defenseman like Rielly who can be a top-pairing offensive defenseman.
San Jose is hoping to see youngsters Sam Dickinson and Shakir Mukhamadullin eventually take over as the team’s long-term top D on a flashy youth core of Macklin Celebrini & Will Smith, but Rielly could be a reliable transitional option.
The Sharks need an upgrade on their left side at the left side over Dmitri Orlov, and potentially allowing for the rookie Dickinson to be sent back to the minors to develop further.
Like San Jose, the Ducks have a youth led forward group in Leo Carlsson and Beckett Sennecke, as well as a defensive core very young, with 25-year-old Jackson LaCombe the veteran of Anaheim’s left side defense.
Anaheim could use a defenseman like Rielly behind LaCombe as a veteran option for a team lacking postseason experience.
Up-and-coming Sharks and Ducks the perfect place to move Morgan Rielly
Young teams in the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks are two clubs to whom their rebuilding status could entice the Leafs as a suitor.
San Jose will have an additional $10M to work with when Carey Price’s contract comes off the books, able to afford Rielly’s deal in full without retention.
Anaheim will have over $40M in cap space at the start of the offseason, and one or both of $8M defensemen John Carlson and Jacob Trouba may not return, or if so will do so at a discount.
This would be helpful for a Leafs team that at the deadline showed reluctance to use their retention spots, and without retention could net some top prospects lacking in the prospect pool.
Rielly has a reported limited trade value, but may be more appealing in the offseason. At the least, moving Rielly’s contract allows Toronto to find an alternative top defenseman.
Both the Sharks and Ducks are possible fits for Morgan Rielly, and both provide the need for what he brings to the table as a veteran, puck-moving top-four defenseman.
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The Leafs must accelerate the 2027 roster reset as two trade fits emerge for Rielly: San Jose and Anaheim
Do you see Morgam Rielly being dealt this offseason?