Where things stand with Maple Leafs and a possible Morgan Rielly trade

Chayka: “At this juncture, Morgan is a big part of this.”

Published Jul 02, 2026  •  Last updated 15 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. Photo by Ernest Doroszuk /Toronto Sun

See more Toronto Sun on Google — save as a Preferred Source

Article content

There remains a rather significant piece of potential business on Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka’s off-season list.

Article content

Article content

Whether it gets done this summer is a matter of debate.

That would be a trade involving veteran defenceman Morgan Rielly.

Nothing is imminent — with the usual caveat that one phone call might change that in a second — though Chayka and J.P. Barry, Rielly’s agent, will continue to try to get something done.

There are a few factors to keep in mind regarding the Rielly trade talks. The 32-year-old isn’t beating down Chayka’s office door to get out of town, and the Leafs have no desire to give Rielly away for next to nothing. The thinking is that if a trade is consummated, it’s going to be a hockey trade in which the Leafs also address a need.

Again, this could change, but it doesn’t seem that the Leafs would want only a draft pick or two in return. Put it this way — why would the Leafs subtract Rielly from the roster and get only picks in return when the health of Chris Tanev, for example, could come into play at some point in 2026-27?

Article content

At the same time, while Rielly is willing to waive his no-movement clause, he’s not going to do it for every team. Initially, he gave the Leafs a list of four teams to which he would be willing to go, all based in the west, but nothing has come of that.

What if no trade happens?

There remains the chance that no Rielly trade is consummated during the next few months. In that case, he will be at training camp in September ready to resume his Leafs tenure. Above everything else, Rielly, the longest-serving current Leafs player at 13 seasons, is a loyal teammate.

And Chayka, with media, has been talking about the importance of Rielly to the Leafs. The latest public support of Rielly by Chayka came on Thursday during an appearance on Sportsnet’s Real Kyper and Bourne, when Chayka said “at this juncture, Morgan is a big part of this.”

With all of the moves Chayka made on Wednesday — two trades and six signings in free agency, including future Hall of Fame goalie Sergei Bobrovsky — the Leafs are hovering around the $104 million US salary cap, if not a shade over it.

Defenceman Emil Andrae and first overall pick Gavin McKenna must be signed.

Rielly’s average annual value for the next four seasons is $7.5 million, and there’s a chance there would be some retention by the Leafs in a trade. And if a hockey trade is made, the Leafs would be taking on new salary as well.

[email protected]

@koshtorontosun

Read More

1. 

   Takeaways from visits with new Leafs: Why home is where the heart is
2. 

   Unpacking Gavin McKenna's first day on the ice at Maple Leafs development camp

Article content