The Toronto Maple Leafs have faced a season of significant changes and challenges, prompting discussions about potential future trades and roster adjustments. This article delves into the recent trades involving the Maple Leafs and examines the possibility of further moves, particularly concerning long-standing players.
The End of an Era
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been anything but a consistent club this season, the second season under head coach Craig Berube and the first season in nearly a decade without forward Mitch Marner, who is now with the Vegas Golden Knights. It was one of the biggest foundational changes that the Maple Leafs have experienced in recent years, and it officially signaled the end of the “Core Four” era of Marner, Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander all together with the same time. Unfortunately for the Leafs, that era of hockey produced a total of two postseason series victories and zero Stanley Cup wins.
Now, a noted NHL Insider is suggesting that the Maple Leafs may soon have to consider moving on from another core piece who happens to be the longest-tenured member of the roster.
Potential Trade of Morgan Rielly
Defenseman Morgan Rielly, who has patrolled the Toronto blue line since 2013 after the Maple Leafs made him their opening round (fifth overall) selection in the 2012 NHL Draft, could be a candidate to be moved if general manager Brad Treliving opts for more moves. In the mind of TSN’s Bryan Hayes, it’s a move that Treliving should explore further, especially if the Maple Leafs once again fail to earn any kind of meaningful postseason success this season.
“If this keeps going south, then you do have to talk about it at the trade deadline, and you absolutely have to explore it in the offseason,” Hayes said. “He’s just been here for so long, he’s so comfortable… He’s been a great Maple Leaf, but if this is the end of a 10-year era where they finally miss the playoffs, and they do have to re-tool, I think you have to go to the longest-standing Maple Leaf and express the need for change… Not right now, maybe by the trade deadline if it keeps going south, if they miss the playoffs, undoubtedly you’ve got to move off of Morgan Rielly in the summer.”
Read also: Features of Custom Hockey Gloves
The Maple Leafs decided that Rielly was a foundational piece to build around, and they made that clear when they offered him an eight-year, $60 million contract that he accepted in 2021. His salary cap hit of $7.5 million may make him difficult to move unless Toronto agreed to retain a portion of his salary as a sweetener. Rielly recently passed the 900-games played threshold and is the longest-tenured current member of the team.
THEY CAUGHT EVERYONE BY SURPRISE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ACQUIRE THREE TIME ALL STAR IN A MAJOR TRADE TO
Contract Details
Morgan Rielly is currently in the midst of an eight-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Historical Trades
From the first player traded to the most recent deal, here is a collection of every trade in the history of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Below is every trade broken down by each separate year.
- February 13, 1935 - Maple Leafs trade cash considerations to the St.
- September 21, 1946 - Maple Leafs trade C Billy Taylor Sr.
- March 25, 1968 - Maple Leafs trade cash considerations to the St.
- 1983 - Trading Larocque, Logan, Acquiring St.
- January 10, 1983 - Maple Leafs trade G Michel Larocque to the Flyers for G Rick St.
- 1997 - Trading Muller, Chase.
- January 16, 2013 - Maple Leafs trade C Matt Lombardi to the Coyotes for a 2014 fourth-round draft pick (RW J.J.
- February 26, 2015 - Maple Leafs trade RW Spencer Abbott to the Blackhawks for D T.J.
Notable Trades
Significant trades in the Maple Leafs' history include:
- April 1986: Wendel Clark, Toronto Maple Leafs and Rick Wamsley, St. Louis Blues.
Read also: The story of Craig Needham
Read also: Inside Aaron Ness's Career