The Toronto Maple Leafs are likely heading towards some major changes in the offseason. After qualifying for the playoffs for nine consecutive years, Toronto is likely to miss out on the postseason fun. Due to winning just two of their last 10 games, the Leafs are now 10 points behind the eighth-placed Detroit Red Wings.
To make matters worse, superstar Auston Matthews will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season because of injury. Without the center, it seems incredibly unlikely that Toronto can make up enough ground in the playoff chase. Even with a healthy Matthews, the Leafs struggled throughout the current campaign. As a result, the team offloaded multiple key players ahead of the trade deadline.
One player that the club likely wished could have also been moved is Morgan Rielly. Once a crucial piece of the puzzle in Toronto, the veteran blueliner has endured a steady decline in recent years. On top of diminished stats, Rielly is also in the middle of a massive eight-year, $60 million ($7.5 million AAV) contract.
Due to the unfortunate combination, the Maple Leafs could not find a trade partner ahead of the March 6 deadline. Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos previously revealed that there was “no market for Morgan Rielly” despite several teams looking for a defenseman. Because Toronto cannot get something in return for the veteran, Kypreos is now urging the Leafs to buy out his contract. Rielly, 32, still has four more years remaining on the deal.
Buying Out Morgan Rielly Would be Bold Move for the Toronto Maple Leafs
GettyMorgan Rielly is currently the longest-tenured Toronto Maple Leaf.
Speaking on the situation on March 15, Kypreos explained his position. “And Morgan Rielly, guys, come on,” stated the insider. “I mean, is this the year you have a talk with him and convince him to go somewhere else? Do you buy him out? Is that an option?”
Kypreos then pointed to how the Minnesota Wild previously bought out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter due to similar circumstances. Both players departed the Wild early in July of 2021. Just a few years later, Minnesota is now thriving and considered to be one of the Stanley Cup favorites.
Assuming the Leafs do opt to buy out Rielly, they would have to pay him $3.5 million annually for the next four years. An additional $2 million cap hit would then take effect for the following four years. While this is a relatively steep price to pay someone not to play, it could work out in everyone’s best interest. According to PuckPedia.com, Toronto has about $23 million in projected cap space for the 2026-27 season.
Toronto’s Decision Could be Influenced by Rising Salary Cap
Maple Leafs execs would still prefer to offload Rielly via trade this summer. The team will be hoping that the defenseman ends the current campaign strongly to help boost his value. However, a buyout would be easier to swallow in the future, given the rising NHL salary cap. By the 2027-28 season, the cap is expected to increase to $113.5 million. The figure is currently at $95.5 million.
Rielly and his teammates recently received heat for not confronting Radko Gudas in the aforementioned hit that injured Matthews. After the game, the veteran admitted that he should have fought the Anaheim Ducks enforcer for the dirty hit. Gudas only received a five-game suspension for the knee-on-knee collision.
Maple Leafs Urged to Cut Ties with Star Veteran