Maple Leafs’ Rielly Listed as Player with Most On the Line… Why?

Morgan Rielly has been with the Toronto Maple Leafs longer than anyone on the roster. Entering 2026-27, he may also have more to prove than anyone.

The Athletic asked its NHL team-dedicated reporters to name one player from each team with the most at stake this season. The list includes stars with legacies on the line, rookies trying to establish themselves and veterans in need of a rebound. For Toronto, the choice was Rielly.

Why Morgan Rielly?

Jonas Siegel wrote the following:

“The longest-serving Leaf had his worst two seasons under Craig Berube, which led to an offseason in which the team’s new front-office regime looked at trading him and couldn’t. Their willingness to move him could change if Rielly performs well again under Jim Hiller this season. Rielly’s contract —which has three more seasons after this one, with a cap hit of $7.5 million — could look a lot more appealing if things go well.”

source – ‘One NHL player from every team with the most on the line in the 2026-27 season’ – Jonas Siegel – The Athletic – 10/10/2026

For now, a trade isn’t happening. The Leafs decided not to move the defenseman and Rielly is relieved to have not been moved. That said, the door isn’t necessarily closed. If he struggles, or the Maple Leafs aren’t contenders this season, all bets are off.

Nothing changes an organization’s perspective more than a brutal season after sweeping changes, where one of the few things that didn’t change was a player the franchise was once set on moving.

Rielly Knows This Season Is a Big One

In September, Rielly acknowledged how much the franchise means to him. He also understood the degree of trade chatter that included his name. TSN’s Darren Dreger said in September, “One of the things that I thought was a guarantee was that Morgan Rielly was going to be in a different uniform when I came back in the fall. So, I’m surprised that they weren’t able to find the right fit.” Rielly was a bit surprised too.

“I feel fortunate to have been a Maple Leaf. I want to continue that for as long as I can… My performance and my game have to hold up that end of the bargain,” said Rielly when he came back to camp before the season. He’s running out of chances to prove himself, and so much so, he had settled into the idea that he might be traded and gave the Maple Leafs a couple of Western Conference teams to which he would have accepted a trade.

What to Watch This Season

For a player who has spent his entire career in Toronto, the stakes couldn’t be higher. He needs to have a big year, and that means finding chemistry with partners like Darren Raddysh and/or Chris Tanev. The Leafs bet big on Raddysh, and they’re counting on Tanev staying healthy. If neither pans out, that’s not entirely on Rielly, but he’ll catch some heat.

At the same time, the Maple Leafs need to bounce back and be a playoff contender. A rebound could restore faith in the organization. That could also reshape the narrative around his standing and trade value. Another down year could make this his last stretch as a Maple Leaf, or leave the team stuck with a contract it has already tried to move once.

The Athletic writes, “The start of a new NHL season can be a pressure cooker. For some players this fall, it might already feel ready to explode.” That’s certainly true for Morgan Rielly.