Morgan Rielly Expects To Stay With Maple Leafs

That smoke has since died down. Rielly did not directly comment on the reports, but did express gratitude for being in Toronto for more than a decade of his lifetime, and despite the team’s drop to last in the Atlantic Division in 2025-26, he’s welcomed the challenge of the new additions the team has made.

“I think when there’s a down year like we had, you almost welcome change,” Rielly said, “I mean, you’re excited and driven and motivated to bounce back and play well. So, as a group, I think we’re looking forward to get going.”

Next season, Rielly will need all the change he can welcome. After a lackluster 2025-26, only scoring 36 points, his lowest total since his 35-point, age-26 season (granted, he played just 55 games in 2020-21), many speculated that a change of scenery would help the veteran, as he notably dipped quite early after a good start to last season. Rielly was a -18 rating, averaging 21:08 of ice time per game and registered a career-low 46.2 Goals For%. This was well off the success he had in 2018-19, when he finished fifth in voting for the Norris Trophy, with 20 goals and 52 assists for 72 points in 82 games.

The 32-year-old defenseman’s contract will last through the 2029-30 season at a $7.5MM cap hit, which will expire when he turns 36. Rielly is second on the blue line to newly acquired Darren Raddysh ($8.5MM) in cap hit. Perhaps pairing the two top-paid defenders might brings some rejuvenated play from Rielly, but it’s hard to say after what was demonstrated last season that he can provide the substantial minutes that he previously has taken on. Then again, his offensive numbers might freshen up with a new face that brings major firepower from the backend.

Rielly has played the seventh-most games as a Maple Leaf all-time, with 951. Staying in Toronto likely means that this season, if he plays 49 games, he’ll become the sixth Leaf to play 1,000 games, passing Mats Sundin in the process.

Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports