The Morgan Rielly trade situation has changed quickly. The Toronto Maple Leafs are starting a new chapter under head coach Jim Hiller, and many expected them to make big roster changes after a disappointing season.

However, Toronto does not want to trade one of its longest-serving players unless they get the right return. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared an update on the July 6 episode of 32 Thoughts. He said the Maple Leafs have told other teams their clear position on Rielly’s future. 

Friedman said, “I just heard that Toronto told people they're not paying a big price to move him.”

NHL Rumour Report also shared Friedman’s comments on X. The comment shows that Toronto may listen to Rielly trade talks, but the team does not want to give up assets or take a bad deal just to save salary cap space. The Maple Leafs still believe Rielly has value and will not rush to trade him.

Morgan Rielly ended the 2025-26 season with 36 points in 78 games, scoring 11 goals and adding 25 assists. However, his minus-18 rating and inconsistent play late in the season have created doubts about his trade value.

In his last 10 games, Rielly scored only three points. In his final five games, he managed just one point and posted a minus-3 rating. These numbers make it harder for Toronto to get the best return for him, especially with his $7.5 million cap hit.

The Maple Leafs have created an interesting situation. They are not trying to push Rielly out, but they want a fair return if they trade him. The next few months will show if another team makes a serious offer or if Rielly stays with Toronto for the next chapter of his career.

Maple Leafs Must Decide Rielly’s Role Under Jim Hiller

The 32 Thoughts report comes at a time when Toronto is trying to rebuild its defense after a tough season. The Maple Leafs finished 28th overall with a 32-36-14 record and a minus-46 goal difference. These results have increased pressure on the team to improve the roster.

Morgan Rielly is still an important part of the franchise. He has spent his entire NHL career in Toronto. Trading him would bring a big leadership change and leave a major hole on the blue line.

David St-Jean of Markerzone reported that Toronto still believes Rielly has value despite his recent struggles. The team does not want to accept a lower return just because his contract has a high cap hit.

New head coach Jim Hiller will use the offseason to decide how Rielly fits into the team’s plans. If Toronto believes he can still help the team, keeping him could be the right choice. But if trade talks continue and teams do not meet their asking price, the situation could become more difficult.

For now, the Maple Leafs want to protect Rielly’s value instead of making a rushed trade. What do you think? Will Toronto drop its price for Rielly, or will he stay with the Maple Leafs next season? Let us know in the comments. 

Read more at the NHL Fan Central.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi