Maple Leafs Could Include Morgan Rielly In Blockbuster Trade
Nick Kypreos: If the Leafs do add a defenceman, [Morgan Rielly] could be the piece included to make the money work - Sportsnet (10/22)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) October 26, 2026
Why Rielly’s Contract Matters
Rielly is 32 and has four seasons left on an eight-year, $60 million contract that carries a $7.5 million cap hit through 2029-30.
Toronto has about $2.4 million in cap space, and Chayka said Monday that the cap won’t be a “gating item” in any deal he’s discussed.
As with the Marchenko trade, Chayka may have to send salary out to bring a new player in.
Jim Hiller: "I thought Rielly, in the second period, those two plays he made, that was vintage Morgan. Up in the play, good play, tape-to-tape pass, skating, joining, so I was really happy for him on those two plays because that's his game offensively ... Good night for him"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 21, 2026
Rielly’s no-movement clause turns into a 10-team no-trade list in July, and inside Chris Johnston reported in May that Rielly had softened his stance on waiving it.
That was before the start of the season, obviously, and the Leafs look like a much different team than last year as of right now, so that very likely could have changed.
Rielly has said he’s always wanted to stay in Toronto, and he’s been stepping up his game while Chris Tanev has been out.
What Chayka Has Said
Chayka told The Athletic in September that at no point did Toronto have a serious trade opportunity with Rielly this summer.
On Monday, he said a defenseman trade has been “discussed much” but that a transaction isn’t always the way to improve, and that he’s open to another blockbuster like the Knies for Marchenko deal.
Sportsnet’s Sean Mirtle believes the only way Rielly gets moved is if Toronto falls well out of the playoff picture, and the Leafs are 7-5-2 with a recent four-game win streak.
Rielly has zero goals, 10 assists, and a -1 plus/minus rating while averaging 19:42 time on ice across 14 games this season.
