NHL Rumors: Could Morgan Rielly’s Name Pop Up Again if Things Continue to go Sideways

Morgan Rielly was approached during the offseason by the Maple Leafs, and it may not be a surprise if they do so again if their season continues to spiral

Daily Faceoff: Irfaan Gaffar and David Pagnotta on the Toronto Maple Leafs not getting enough out of defenseman Morgan Rielly, and do they ask him again about his no-movement clause?

** NHLRumors.com transcription

“But even that like you’re still not seeing enough out of (Auston Matthews). You’re not seeing enough out of Willie Nylander. You’re not nearly seeing enough out of Morgan Rielly.

There was some talk at the end of last season that the Leafs might explore something with respect to 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 hyped it up like crazy in preseason.

He spent a lot of time in Toronto over the summer. He had a new regimen. He was back on track. He was going to be the player he was, and he hasn’t been. I think he had the first couple of weeks were great, and then it’s just kind of, you know, OEL is their best defenseman hands down this season. And I love the guy, but Morgan Rielly’s supposed to be the guy. He’s supposed to be that guy.

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So I wouldn’t be shocked if we start to hear his name popping up again, but he has a full no-move, and he made it clear to them in the summer, or leading into the summer, that he didn’t want to waive his no-movement clause. I don’t know if that’s changed. I don’t, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they broached that subject, if they haven’t done so already.

Because something of that magnitude needs to happen for this team. You can’t keep blaming the coaching staff, the power play garbage. You just, you have to focus. And I get it as well. You know, Berube is in a tough spot, because you kind of just have to, like, these are the cards you’re dealt. So you have to adjust your system based on what you get.

They love to be more offensive and run and gun. They just don’t have the full tools to do it. You’ve got four top-six forwards. Roster construction, etc, etc, etc. there’s so many different layers to this, this problem in Toronto that it’s not one thing that should be able to fix it.”

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