Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly trade plans take specific shape

Morgan Rielly still seems like a strong candidate to get traded this offseason.

But for the Toronto Maple Leafs to make that happen, a lot of things will have to line up all at once on the trade market.

The main reason for that is that Rielly has a no-movement clause. He's in total control of where he ends up.

Then you add in Rielly's contract, which is a $7.5 million cap hit through the 2029-30 season, and it could be tough to move him without the Leafs retaining some of his salary.

The Maple Leafs are also going to be a bit deliberate about this, according to NHL insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

"It doesn’t sound like the Toronto Maple Leafs will ask Morgan Rielly for a list of teams he’d accept a trade to," Pagnotta wrote on Thursday. "While that could change, the sense I’m getting right now is that Rielly and his camp will review things on a case-by-case basis, should the Leafs find a trade they’re willing to accept."

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Some other players, like Dylan Larkin and Darnell Nurse, have reportedly submitted specific team trade lists.

Rielly apparently isn't going with that tactic. Instead, Toronto wants to just see what's out there and go from there.

That might suggest Rielly is more amenable to being moved wherever. It's been a bit bumpy for him with the Leafs of late, and maybe he just wants a change of scenery.

This news certainly means it's not too worth speculating on one or two landing spots for Rielly. It sounds like this could come together more organically.

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