Brandon Carlo, Morgan Rielly land on The Athletic’s top 25 trade targets list

With the Toronto Maple Leafs off to a mediocre start, it’s no surprise to hear that general manager Brad Treliving is keeping an eye on the trade market in an effort to retool this roster. However, the team may face some challenges on the market, with a shallow prospect pool and a lack of excess draft capital.

On Wednesday, Chris Johnston of The Athletic published his latest top 25 trade targets. Appearing on the list from the Maple Leafs are Brandon Carlo at #9 and Morgan Rielly at #25.

Carlo is off to a poor start this season on a struggling Toronto blue line, but still could have a lot to offer for a team looking for defensive support. He also landed on The Leafs Nation’s list of three players that make the most sense to be traded earlier this week. On Carlo, Johnston writes:

Traded from Boston to Toronto ahead of last year’s deadline, Carlo is among a small handful of players who could bring the struggling Leafs back surplus value in a shakeup deal. Of course, they’d also be immediately looking for another sturdy defender who can patrol the right side if they elect to go down that road. Carlo is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who can kill penalties and help shut the game down. He’s not overly physical, but he’s no stranger to big-game hockey with 85 career playoff games on his resume. He’s signed for one season beyond this one, too.

Meanwhile, questions about a possible Rielly trade are nothing new, but there continue to be barriers to getting it done and questions about his market value. On Rielly, Johnston writes:

The longest-tenured member of the Maple Leafs owns a no-movement clause and no apparent desire for a change of scenery. However, a tough start to the season in Toronto has left management looking at all options. Rielly had a heart-to-heart with GM Brad Treliving in May and responded with a big summer, but the team is still searching for the right mix on its blue line. While Rielly’s skating may not be the separator it once was, he still does a strong job of getting his team playing offense and is a high-character player.

The Maple Leafs are on the lookout for some fresh bodies on their roster, and Carlo and Rielly are two options they could be shopping right now.

Leading off The Athletic’s list on Wednesday were Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson, Nashville Predators veteran Steven Stamkos, and winger Alex Tuch of the Buffalo Sabres. Also notable, former Leaf Nazem Kadri landed at #21 on the list, with the potential of returning to Toronto this season.

Give us your thoughts, what kind of return would you expect from a hypothetical Carlo or Rielly trade?