{"id":452675,"date":"2026-02-09T23:20:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T23:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/452675\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T23:20:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T23:20:14","slug":"morgan-riellys-replacement-might-be-coming-from-calgary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/452675\/","title":{"rendered":"Morgan Rielly\u2019s replacement might be coming from Calgary"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\t\t\t \"Jan <\/p>\n

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Rumours have emerged over the past few days that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Morgan Rielly’s partnership may be coming to an end.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Weegar wants out? Calgary defenceman could be part of trade talks<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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:<\/p>\n

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?<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

In 56 games he has 20 points (3 goals, 17 assists) and a minus-32 but does have 129 blocks and 127 hits.<\/p>\n

Weegar to replace Rielly? A much better idea when you think about it<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

Plus he’s still big at 6’0, 206 pounds so it’s not like Toronto is sacrificing size when they lose Rielly.<\/p>\n

Here is how a potential defensive lineup would look with Weegar replacing Rielly as the #1:<\/p>\n

McCabe – Weegar
Ekman-Larsson – Carlo
Benoit – Stecher<\/p>\n

That gives Toronto a true powerhouse at the point who can play better defensively than Rielly and has Jake McCabe backing him up.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Previously on Hockey Patrol<\/p>\n

POLL<\/p>\n

17 MINUTES AGO|15 ANSWERS<\/p>\n

Morgan Rielly\u2019s replacement might be coming from Calgary<\/p>\n

Do you think the Maple Leafs should make a play for Mackenzie Weegar to replace Morgan Rielly?<\/p>\n

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