Maple Leafs core four member would complete the Red Wings' retool: Major trade proposal emerges
Photo credit: NHL.com
The Detroit Red Wings need to fortify their blueline with Morgan Rielly, an original-six swap would be quite a hefty return for the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they'll look for top prospects in return with Ben Chiarot for Rielly.
The Detroit Red Wings need to bolster the blueline for a deep playoff run. One answer would lie in Toronto, with the team's top defenseman, Morgan Rielly.
Trade Proposal: Morgan Rielly for a Haul of Assets
Rielly, a former 72-point defenseman, would add a scoring threat on the blueline and someone who's experienced in the playoffs.
With a core of Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Dylan Larkin, adding Rielly could be a critical piece in the team's future.
A race to the playoffs would look realistic, as Rielly hasn't had a season under 40+ points since 2016-17. Even then, he'd be part of the Maple Leafs' playoff run and has seen extensive play in the playoffs since then (the perennial first-round jokes aside).
Heavy.com has proposed a trade that wouldn't include any top defensive prospects like Axel Sandin-Pellikka, but the Red Wings would have to sacrifice Sebastian Cossa:
Red Wings Acquire:
Morgan Rielly ($7.5 million)
Maple Leafs Acquire:
Ben Chiarot ($4.75 million)
Sebastian Cossa ($863,334)
Eddie Genborg (Prospect)
Conditional 3rd-round 2026 draft pick
Morgan Rielly ($7.5 million)
Maple Leafs Acquire:
Ben Chiarot ($4.75 million)
Sebastian Cossa ($863,334)
Eddie Genborg (Prospect)
Conditional 3rd-round 2026 draft pick
It seems like a bit of an overpay for Rielly, who only scored 41 points (7-34) last season. He'd score 7 points (3-4) in 13 playoff games last season with the Maple Leafs.
If anything, it might be too generous to include Eddie Genborg in my opinion. But given how stocked the Red Wings pipeline truly is, it might not be anything to cry about down the road.
That is especially if Morgan Rielly could be the linchpin that puts the team on the path to a playoff run.
Rielly was drafted 5th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft.
One positive would be the Red Wings getting rid of Ben Chiarot as an essential cap dump, as the depth defenseman only contributed 13 points and 127 hits in 81 games last season.
The pros may outweight the cons with this one.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
