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Toronto Maple Leafs connected to several defensemen on the trade market to potentially pair with Morgan Rielly

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Tyler Ball
December 26, 2024  (9:30 PM)
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly skating in an away game in the NHL.
Photo credit: Jess Starr - The Hockey Writers

The NHL trade deadline is rapidly approaching and tonight a new set of reports have thrown out several names that could be connected to the Maple Leafs.

After the news that goaltender Anthony Stolarz will miss even more time due to his injury pressure has mounted for the Maple Leafs to make a move to improve the team in front of remaining goaltender Joseph Woll.

The Maple Leafs have struggled to find consistency on defense for several seasons dating back to the early days of the core four.

With these struggles have come several trade deadline deals to bring in reinforcements over the years and it seems that will be the case again this season.

In particular, this season Morgan Rielly has struggled to find the offensive flair and success Maple Leafs fans are used to seeing in past years.

While Rielly has been the Maple Leafs' best offensive defenseman he is on pace for just 42 points this season which is a severe drop off from his expected production.

As the trade deadline approaches and the Maple Leafs are in a contending spot once again insiders have again confirmed that the team will be major buyers at the deadline and a partner to help boost Rielly seems like a top priority.

Maple Leafs linked to familiar faces to help get Morgan Rielly back on track

According to Maple Leafs insider Jonas Siegel a reunion with some familiar names could be in order to turn things around for the Maple Leafs and Morgan Rielly.

In the past, Rielly has done best when he has a trustworthy stay-at-home defenseman who allows him to take risks and play with a more offensive style.

This season that has not been his experience but Siegel believes former Maple Leafs Luke Schenn could be part of the solution.

Schenn and Rielly were superb together during the 2023 playoffs, the Leafs' best pair by a lot. The Leafs pumped the Lightning and Panthers 9-2 in their five-on-five minutes and handily won the shot-quality battle.

Rielly has never looked better than with Schenn by his side that spring. He was arguably the Leafs' best player over those two rounds, cashing in with four goals and 12 points in 11 games.


However, if the Maple Leafs are not open to bringing Schenn back to Toronto then Siegel believes a veteran like David Savard or even Cody Ceci could be other names to look out for.

If not Schenn, the Leafs could pursue David Savard, the muscly Montreal Canadiens defender playing on an expiring contract ($3.5 million cap hit). He fits the meat-and-potatoes prototype, but the Leafs still can't be sure he'll be comfortable playing next to Rielly.

Another option: Cody Ceci, another pending free agent ($3.25 million cap hit). Unlike Savard, Ceci has played with Rielly, during a sometimes-bumpy 2019-20 season.


Heading into the trade deadline the Maple Leafs have to prioritize a new partner for Morgan Rielly if they cannot get him back on track by the time the playoffs come the Maple Leafs could be doomed for another early round exit.

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Toronto Maple Leafs connected to several defensemen on the trade market to potentially pair with Morgan Rielly

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