NHL Rumors: Could Morgan Rielly’s name resurface if things continue to go sideways

Morgan Rielly was approached by the Maple Leafs this offseason, and it shouldn’t be a surprise if they do so again if their season continues to soar.

Daily confrontation: Irfaan Gaffar and David Pagnotta on the Toronto Maple Leafs can’t get enough of defenseman Morgan Rielly, so they ask him again about his no-movement policy?

** NHLRumors.com transcription

“But even that like you still don’t see enough of (Auston Matthews). You don’t see enough of Willie Nylander. You don’t see nearly enough of Morgan Rielly.”

There was some discussion late last season that the Leafs would investigate something regarding Rielly. And I think there was a conversation, or part of the conversation, that the Leafs had with him about getting back on track, because they had ramped it up like crazy in the preseason.

He spent a lot of time in Toronto last summer. He had a new regime. He was back on track. He was supposed to become the player he was, and he didn’t become that. I think the first few weeks were great, and then it’s just kind of, you know, OEL is without a doubt their best defender this season. And I love him, but Morgan Rielly should be the guy. He should be that guy.

NHL Rumors: Toronto Maple Leafs and the Colorado Avalanche

So I wouldn’t be shocked if we heard his name pop up again, but he has a full no-movement clause and he made it clear to them in the summer, or in the run-up to the summer, that he didn’t want to waive his no-movement clause. I don’t know if that has changed. I don’t, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they bring up that topic if they haven’t already.

Because something of that magnitude needs to happen for this team. You can’t keep blaming the coaching staff for the power play. You just have to concentrate. And I get it too. You know, Berube is in a difficult situation because you just have to say, these are the cards you’re dealt. So you have to adjust your system based on what you get.

They like to be more offensive and run and gun. They just don’t have the full tools to do this. You have four top-six forwards. Grid construction, etc, etc, etc. There are so many layers to this problem, this problem in Toronto, that it’s not one thing that should be able to solve it.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Rumors overviews and hot topics from around the league. We also post some stuff Instagram.