Two Maple Leafs defensemen emerge on insider's latest trade board

The trade winds are finally starting to blow across the NHL. With one week to go until American Thanksgiving, general managers have seen enough action to determine whether their roster needs a shake-up.

Right in the thick of those discussions are the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been mired in an underwhelming and now injury-riddled first 20 games of the season.

Because of that, it’s become public knowledge that Brad Treliving wants to make changes, and while we all know who’s off limits in Toronto, TSN insider Chris Johnston revealed who’s available for the taking as his latest trade board included defensemen Brandon Carlo and Morgan Rielly.

He provided these details on the two Maple Leafs’ blue-liners:

“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.”

He added:

“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,” Johnston said of Rielly.

The 28-year-old Carlo is in the fifth season of the six-year, $24.6 million extension he signed with the Bruins in 2021, while the 31-year-old Rielly is in year four of the eight-year, $60 million extension he inked with the Maple Leafs in 2021.

Morgan Rielly no longer untouchable?

While Carlo being on the block is understandable, given his struggles to find a fit in Toronto, Rielly’s name appearing on trade boards is very interesting.

The 2012 fifth-overall pick has been viewed as part of the Maple Leafs’ core and untouchable in any trade discussions. However, that appears to have changed, as first, it was Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman not listing Rielly as an untouchable on Monday, and now, Johnston has the veteran at No. 25 on his November trade board.