"Rielly, the Leafs' longest-tenured player, has drawn trade calls due to his apparent lack of production. That's justified. Rielly is supposed to be the Maple Leafs' top offensive blueliner. While he's certainly leading Toronto defensemen in scoring this season, his comparative numbers aren't quite what Leafs Nation would hope for. In 41 games this season, Rielly has five goals and 21 assists for 26 points."
"Trading the longest-tenure Maple Leafs player would be a watershed moment for the club. It would be an admission that this core is finally done with. In a sense, it would signal the beginning of a new rebuild. Since being drafted fifth-overall in 2012, Rielly has been as steady as they come for the Maple Leafs. He dealt with the lows of those awful teams of the 2010s, including the awful Shanaplan tank of 2016. He's handled the disappointments of all of those playoff exits."
Morgan Rielly has drawn trade speculation due to underwhelming offensive production for a team's top offensive defenseman. He has five goals and 21 assists for 26 points in 41 games, ranking 22nd among NHL defensemen, trailing peers like John Carlson and Shayne Gostisbehere. The Maple Leafs could reasonably seek a blueliner who contributes more offensively and handles top minutes, but such players are difficult to acquire. Moving Rielly would carry deep psychological impact, marking a franchise watershed and effectively beginning a rebuild unless the return sufficiently justifies dismantling the existing core. Potential roster fallout could include key stars being moved next.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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