Following a disappointing first-round exit against the Anaheim Ducks, the Edmonton Oilers are facing growing pressure to fix the defensive issues and roster concerns that resurfaced throughout the series.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are note exactly in the same boat as the Oilers, but they are facing some problems in the same vein.
Could the two teams do some you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours business to solve each other’s problems this summer?
Allan Mitchell Links Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly to Oilers
Morgan Rielly, who was drafted fifth overall in 2012, is the longest-serving active player on the Leafs roster, but has become a frequent name in trade discussions following Toronto’s disappointing season. Rielly still has four years remaining on his 8-year, $60 million contract which carries a $7.5 million annual cap hit.
While his offensive production dropped to 36 points in 78 games, his defensive play also came under scrutiny during a year in which Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons. Rielly finished with a plus-minus rating of -18.
Because of these struggles and the organization’s front-office overhaul, several insiders believe the Maple Leafs could consider major roster changes this summer. However, any potential move involving Rielly comes with a major complication since he owns a full no-movement clause (for the next two seasons) and would need to approve a trade.
In a recent column for The Athletic, NHL insider Allan Mitchell examined Edmonton’s defensive outlook and mentioned Rielly as a possible target for the Oilers. Mitchell explained that Edmonton’s blue-line issues remained a concern throughout the season, especially before the arrival of Connor Murphy, who helped stabilize parts of the second pairing alongside Darnell Nurse.
Mitchell wrote, “Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly could be in play, but one of his key skills, quarterbacking the power play, would not be used often enough in Edmonton. Evan Bouchard owns those minutes.”
That final point is a bit of a wrinkle for Edmonton. Rielly’s offensive value has traditionally come through puck movement and power-play usage, but the Oilers already depend heavily on Bouchard for that role. Adding another expensive offensive defenseman without adjusting the structure may not solve the broader defensive problems that hurt Edmonton against Anaheim.
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The Oilers were eliminated after a 5-2 Game 6 loss and finished the postseason with the worst goals-against average among all playoff teams. Injuries to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl also exposed the lack of depth behind Edmonton’s stars, while the penalty kill struggled badly at key moments throughout the series.
Mitchell also suggested Edmonton may ultimately focus on keeping its current group intact, especially if Murphy re-signs. Still, with both the Oilers and Maple Leafs facing pressure after disappointing seasons, trade speculation involving established veterans like Rielly is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
