The Toronto Maple Leafs have had their name come up quite a bit in the rumour mill over the last few months. While the talk initially focused on pending unrestricted free agents such as Scott Laughton and Bobby McMann. The conversation has shifted towards some of the bigger names on the roster as the March 6 trade deadline approaches.
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According to NHL insider David Pagnotta, the Maple Leafs are expected to have an in-depth conversation with Morgan Rielly about waiving his no-movement clause. While Pagnotta previously mentioned this as a summer storyline, the urgency has ramped up now that the Olympic break is over and Toronto remains outside the playoff picture after dropping two in a row.
Pagnotta Reports Conversation Is Coming
Rielly has been the face of the blue line for over a decade. But with the Maple Leafs currently sitting eight points out of a wild card spot. And, it feels like management might finally be ready to make some significant changes. If he actually agrees to waive his clause, it would be the clearest sign yet that Brad Treliving is ready to take the organization in a different direction.
As per Pagnotta, this is not just a casual check-in. The Maple Leafs need to know where Rielly’s head is at as they navigate the final ten days before the deadline. Treliving needs clarity on whether he can even include Rielly’s name in legitimate trade talks. Here’s what he said on the Sheet with Jeff Marek:
“He’s got the full no-move…he’s got control basically; I think that [conversation]…will eventually happen; I believe they had a loose conversation at the end of last season.”
Rielly holds a full no-movement clause until 2028, meaning he is completely in the driver’s seat. He is also signed at a $7.5 million cap hit for several more seasons. While that is a heavy number for a 31-year-old defenceman, he remains a productive puck-mover who could help a contender immediately. Moving Rielly would be one of the few ways for Toronto to shed significant salary and get younger on the back end.
Will Rielly Actually Waive?
The biggest question is whether Rielly even wants a fresh start. He has lived through all the highs and lows in Toronto and remains a respected leader in that room. Still, after years of early playoff exits and a frustrating 2025-26 season, the idea of joining a contender might be starting to appeal to him.
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The San Jose Sharks have been frequently linked to him, as they are one of the few teams with the cap space to absorb his contract. There has even been some speculation that if Rielly refuses to waive it, the Maple Leafs could look at reducing his ice time to prioritize younger players. That feels more like a pressure tactic than a real hockey plan, but it shows how high the tension has become.
At the end of the day, if a trade does happen, it would mark the end of an era in Toronto. Rielly is the longest-tenured player on the roster, and moving him would signal a total culture shift for the franchise. The Maple Leafs have nine days to decide if this core can still win together, or if it’s finally time for Rielly and others to be moved and start the retool.
