Morgan Rielly Says He’s Ready to Stay with Maple Leafs Unless Trade Is Requested

TITLE: Morgan Rielly Says He’s Ready to Stay with Maple Leafs Unless Trade Is Requested

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a difficult decision with defenseman Morgan Rielly this summer. While trade speculation has swirled around the 32-year-old blueliner, Rielly has made it clear he wants to remain with the team that drafted him. However, he also acknowledged that if the organization were to ask him to waive his full no-move clause, he would consider it.

“My desire to stay in Toronto is always going to be there,” Rielly said during a recent one-on-one interview. “There’s a number of (reasons), but a big one is loyalty. Loyalty to the team that drafted you, I think that’s a powerful thing.”

Rielly is under contract through the 2030-31 season at a cap hit of $7.5 million per year. His no-move clause remains in effect for the final four years of the deal, making it difficult for the Leafs to move him without his consent. Despite the team’s failure to make the playoffs in 2025-26, Rielly has not been approached about waiving the clause and insists his focus is on next season.

When asked directly if he would waive his no-trade, Rielly said he wasn’t ready to give a definitive answer. “You know it’s a possibility,” he said. “Obviously, that’s a thing that as a player, you have to prepare for.”

The Leafs have limited options if they want to move Rielly without his cooperation. A buyout would keep his $3.5 million cap hit on the books for the next four years and then $2 million for the following four. That would tie up significant cap space for nearly a decade. The team also can’t force Rielly into a trade or sit him out to pressure a decision.

Rielly, who averaged 21:32 of ice time per game last season while recording 18 goals and 42 assists, is focused on improving for 2026-27. “Always,” he said when asked if he’s thinking about ways to be better next year. “Even early on at the end of the offseason, you’re thinking about what you might change moving forward.”

With the NHL free agency and trade deadline approaching in July, the Maple Leafs will have to decide whether to keep Rielly or explore other options. For now, the door remains closed — but not entirely shut.