People have been talking about Morgan Rielly leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs. But he seems to like Toronto, and he has a no-trade clause. That means he decides, and there is no indication he wants to leave Toronto. For now, his life is based in Ontario. It has simply become his home. And he has been extremely active in the greater Toronto community.
Rielly married Canadian ice dancer Tessa Virtue: they have a son
Riel got married Canadian ice dancing legend Tessa Virtue in 2023. The two had a son in 2024, whom they named McCormick. Virtue is one of Canada’s most decorated Olympic skaters, and the couple’s lives have strong Canadian roots. While life in Canada can be huge, life in Toronto may not be.
When you’re a GM thinking about moving someone with those kinds of personal roots, it’s never easy. But the point is: just because we think It’s unlikely he wants a move, but that doesn’t mean you don’t ask for it.
Virtue comes from Ontario, but not from Toronto
Rielly is from North Vancouver, BC, so a return there could have a personal appeal for him. Virtue, on the other hand, is from London, Ontario. So Toronto isn’t really ‘her birthplace’, even though they built their family life there.
The thing is, Toronto is home now because of their life together, but a move to Vancouver would bring Rielly closer to family roots, while Virtue’s life is more flexible because she isn’t tied to a hometown there.
Could Rielly be drawn to Vancouver?
Is there any chance Rielly is pulled home to play for a rebuilding Canucks team? Vancouver’s young defensemen could really use a steady hand: someone who has handled top-pair minutes in a major market and knows how to handle the heat. He could be a mentor to guys like Zeev Buium, Tom Willander or Victor Mancini. He would also have to guess that he and Filip Hronek would pair well.
Would Rielly be open to such a role? We don’t know – and no GM knows. Perhaps he would jump at the chance to play closer to his extended family. Perhaps the idea of putting his own stamp on a renovation appeals to him now that he is a father. Perhaps he heard the loud criticism of his piece from analysts across Toronto. Maybe, like Mitch Marner, he’s had enough.
Or maybe he prefers the stability of Toronto. We just don’t know because no one has asked. Who would have thought Zach Hyman would jump ship to the Edmonton Oilers?
If the Maple Leafs want to move on, they’ll have to ask Rielly
Therefore, this is not a foolish rumor. If that’s what the organization wants, it’s a question worth putting on the table. In an NHL with no guarantees, the only way to find out if a trade is possible is to ask. It doesn’t hurt anything and it can spark conversations that lead to something creative. The worst thing this can do is make it clear where everyone stands.
For a player with a no-trade clause, sometimes the most important part is whether he wants to waive it. And until that answer is provided, the speculation will never truly go away.
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