It has been made clear that the Edmonton Oilers’ priority heading into the March 6 NHL trade deadline is acquiring a top-nine forward – and preferably an impact forward. While that undoubtedly remains the case, it doesn’t mean GM Stan Bowman won’t also try to strengthen the blue line in the process.
If the Oilers add a defenseman, the expectation is that it will be via a cheap depth move, with names like Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn and Carson Soucy being considered. However, a recent rumor chart suggests they are lurking around something much bigger – the exact opposite of that – in Morgan Rielly, a high-profile, big-ticket blueliner.
Eklund’s NHL Trade and Free Agent Rumors shared a presentation highlighting some of the most talked-about names on the market, as well as the teams they are associated with. Rielly was particularly tied with Dallas, Edmonton, Boston and Detroit, with the Oilers having the second-highest odds of all destinations at 30 percent.
The 31-year-old Rielly is in year four of the eight-year, $60 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs in 2021. He has registered 30 points (six goals, 24 assists) in 50 games played this season.
Morgan Rielly against the Oilers doesn’t make much sense
As much as Toronto wants to get rid of Rielly and his $7.5 million salary, it’s highly unlikely that Edmonton will be the team to help.
The Oilers are clearly up against the cap, and the only realistic way to make a Rielly deal work would be a one-for-one trade involving Darnell Nurse, which honestly isn’t happening, especially in midseason. Doug MacLean floated the idea back in December, but even then the chances of it happening were slim to none, especially given their respective full no-movement clauses.
Not to mention Rielly’s defensive issues – which have persisted for years – aren’t exactly what Edmonton needs to add to the backend. If they want to strengthen their blueline, expect Bowman to turn to a much cheaper and more stable option.
On the other hand, if Brad Treliving is serious about moving the longest-tenured Maple Leaf, he will have to find not only an interested suitor with the flexibility to pick up his contract, but also a destination that Rielly is willing to forego.
That’s an extremely difficult needle to thread, especially between now and the deadline. As a result, if Rielly is ever traded, it seems much more likely that it will happen this offseason – and not in Edmonton.
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