Bob Frid-Imagn Images

San Jose Sharks Eyeing Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Jeremy Ridgewell | Last updated Feb 12, 2026 2:52 AM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a tough spot. They have already hinted at possibly being sellers at the NHL trade deadline. Leafs GM Brad Treliving’s decision to make a bigger change to the team’s core is starting to feel inevitable.

The Leafs were on a roll before the break for the 2026 Winter Olympics happened. They finally found the spark that seemed to be missing almost the entire season. Toronto is on a three-game winning streak. Something that helped them right the ship. However, all the teams ahead of them in the standings were also winning.

One important detail to point out is that during their recent winning streak, they were winning without defenseman Morgan Rielly in the lineup. A more noticeable stat worth looking at is that since the beginning of the 2022-23 season, Toronto has a 24-5-1 record when Rielly is not playing. It is hard to ignore a stat like that.

Toronto Unsure of Rielly’s Timeline

Rielly missed those last three games with an undisclosed upper-body injury. An ongoing issue that got aggravated midway through the Leafs’ comeback win on January 31st, against the Vancouver Canucks. Toronto has said that Rielly’s injury still needs to be evaluated further. This leaves the timeline for his return unclear. As trade rumors begin to pick up, knowing Rielly’s health status will be important.

The NHL trade deadline is on March 6th. Toronto will play six games after the Olympic break before the deadline. If the Leafs decide to trade Rielly, and if he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause, which team makes sense? According to Michael Amato from Sportsnet, the San Jose Sharks have formally expressed interest in Rielly. Sharks GM Mike Grier has asked Treliving to circle back to him once he’s ready to make a move regarding a trade for the 31-year-old veteran defenseman.

Rielly Could Use a Fresh Start

If you’re Toronto, trading Rielly is not a simple move. He has spent his entire 13-year NHL career playing for the Maple Leafs and is the longest-serving player on the roster. Rielly is signed through 2030 with a $7.5 million AAV salary cap hit. As mentioned earlier, his deal carries a full no-move clause until 2028, which gives him full control over any potential moves that Treliving tries to make.

Rielly’s offensive production has been decent this season. He has registered seven goals and 24 assists for 31 points in 54 games. However, his defensive game is a different story. Many Leafs fans are not surprised, as his defensive play has been subpar for a couple of seasons. No NHL player has been on the ice for more even-strength goals against than Rielly this season. He has been on the ice for 73 goals against at five-on-five.

Now, nothing appears to be imminent on the trade front, but that could change drastically once the NHL resumes play. With other teams showing interest, and Toronto able to win without him, Morgan Rielly’s time in Toronto may be over. It’s definitely a storyline worth watching.

https://feeds.simplecast.com/iWWhO4_4