NHL Rumors: 2 Maple Leafs Players Want to Stay With Team
Morgan Rielly, who has worn a Leafs sweater for 13 seasons and carries a full no-movement clause in his eight-year, $60 million contract, was asked how he would feel if the organization asked him to waive it.
"It's a challenging thing to answer when those conversations haven't happened yet," Rielly said. "But after a year like this, change is bound to happen. So I think as an athlete, you have to be prepared for that."
He did not leave any doubt about where he stands personally, though.
"I've always loved being in Toronto and being a part of this organization," he said. "I've always wanted to stay. I still want to stay. I love playing here, I love being a Maple Leaf, and this organization means a lot to me."
Knies Made It About More Than Just Himself
Matthew Knies, 23, was asked a similar question about the trade rumors that surrounded him during the season.
"You can say that about almost every guy in this locker room," Knies said. "You get so close through the year. We were saying that about Laughton at the trade deadline too, like he's only been here for a year. Bobby McMann, he's only been here for a few years. It felt weird with those guys not being here. It would be weird to see anyone in a different jersey."
Matthew Knies on whether he considered the high return that was speculated when he was involved in trade rumors as a compliment:
— Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) April 16, 2026
“I wouldn’t want to look at it as a compliment, I’d look at it as a crappy thing. I don’t want to leave this group of guys… it doesn’t really matter…
He was direct when asked whether he wanted to remain a Maple Leaf.
"That's for the guys upstairs," he said. "I want to stay here. I want to play here. That's not in my hands."
When it was pointed out that the reported trade packages for him were massive, and asked whether that made it easier to process, Knies pushed back immediately.
"I wouldn't want to look at it as a compliment," he said. "I'd look at it as a crappy thing. I don't want to leave this group of guys. It doesn't really matter what it was. I wouldn't want to leave here."
What Comes Next
Both players acknowledged that the final say rests with whoever takes over as the next Maple Leafs general manager.
MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley has stated publicly that the organization is not rebuilding. Moving Rielly and Knies would represent exactly that kind of reset, regardless of how it gets framed.
Rielly was candid about the road ahead, even while expressing belief in the group.
"In this league, I don't think there are any easy fixes," he said. "The work that this team will have to put in to get back to where we want to be is extensive."
Matthew Knies on if it would be hard to imagine the Maple Leafs without Morgan Rielly:
— Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) April 13, 2026
“You can say that about almost every guy in this locker room. You get so close through the year. We were saying that about Laughton at the trade deadline too, like he’s only been here for a…
Knies was more straightforwardly optimistic when asked whether the team could bounce back next season.
"100 percent," he said. "With the talent and personnel in the locker room, that's definitely going to happen."
Both players clearly want to be part of whatever comes next in Toronto. Whether the new front office sees it the same way is another question.
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
