The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of heavy lifting to do in the NHL offseason. They finished off their season with a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. Now, the future of some of their stars, like Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly, is coming into question.
Recently, a new report indicates that teams have been interested in Rielly. In fact, three teams were named in this report. Here is a look at those teams, what Rielly brings to the table, and an assessment of which team is the best fit.
Morgan Rielly Linked to Three Other NHL Teams
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period recently reported the names of three teams that had interest in the defender at the trade deadline.
“Rielly has four more seasons remaining on his contract after this one and comes with a $7.5 million salary cap hit,” Pagnotta wrote. “Teams like the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Seattle Kraken have been rumored to have interest in him, should the Leafs look to move him.”
The San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Seattle Kraken all make sense to different degrees.
What Morgan Rielly Brings to the Table
Rielly is an offensive-minded defender who can quarterback a powerplay, regardless of how he performed this season. Fortunately, he would be an incredible asset to whichever team acquires him.
In 78 games during the 2025-26 season, he recorded 11 goals and 25 assists for 36 total points. This is his lowest point total in some time. The last time he recorded under 40 points in a full season was during the 2016-17 season. That year, Rielly recorded 27 points in 76 games.
Despite the overall low point total, 11 goals scored is the second-highest of his career. Rielly’s highest being the 20 goals he scored during the 2018-19 season.
Additionally, his powerplay production suffered. This season, he collected six powerplay points. Fortunately, this is an exception rather than the norm as Rielly has scored at least 10 powerplay points in a season for five consecutive seasons prior to this one.
Along with his point production, Rielly also arrives with a $7.5 million price tag attached for the next four years.
Which Team is the Best Fit For Rielly?
Let’s take a quick look at the three teams and breakdown which one is the best fit for Rielly.
San Jose Sharks
Cap Space (Approximate): $42. 5 Million
Defenders Signed for 2026-27: Dmitry Orlov, Sam Dickinson, Luca Cagnoni.
Defenders Over 30 Points: 1 (Orlov)
Does Rielly Fit? Orlov is the only experienced NHL defender, which gives them the roster flexibility to accommodate a deal. Having an offensively minded blueliner on the powerplay to feed Macklin Celebrini is a tempting proposition for Sharks management to consider.
Seattle Kraken
Cap Space (Approximate): $28.4 million
Defenders Signed for 2026-27: Vince Dunn, Brandon Montour, Adam Larsson, Ryan Lindgren.
Defenders Over 30 Points: 2 (Dunn & Montour)
Does Rielly Fit? Unfortunately, it’s not a great fit on paper. Firstly, it makes sense to add another defender who scores at least 30 points. On the other hand, the Kraken already have two powerplay defenders at their disposal. Taking these factors into consideration, it’s not a clear fit unless Rielly is given the reins to the top unit for the man-advantage.
Chicago Blackhawks
Cap Space (Approximate): $40.2 Million
Defenders Signed for 2026-27: Alex Vlasic, Wyatt Kaiser, Artyom Levshunov, Sam Rinzel, Louis Crevier.
Defenders Over 30 Points: 0
Does Rielly Fit? Comparitively to the Sharks, this is a slam-dunk fit. Fortunately for the Blackhawks, this is where Rielly thrives. Pairing these two together would be a great win for the Blackhawks franchise.
Finally, Blackhawks and Sharks stand out as the best fits for Rielly. Primarily, because they have free roster positions and cap flexibility to execute a deal.
Unfortunately, it’s going to be a long offseason for the Maple Leafs. This will give the new GM plenty of time to make their moves.
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