The Maple Leafs are running out of realistic landing places, and Morgan Rielly’s trade market suffered Friday night.
Insider Chris Johnston said Thursday he still expects Rielly to be moved, but he flagged one suitor that’s officially gone.
Johnston claims the Sharks are no longer on the board.
Why? San Jose met its need on the rear end, and did it twice.
Darnell Nurse, who scored 24 points in 82 games this season and had a cap hit of $9,250,000, was acquired by the Sharks through a deal.
Then they inked Jacob Trouba, who scored 35 points in 81 games and has an $8,000,000 hit to his name.
Two experienced right-shot defensemen have been added to a team that went 39-35-8 under Ryan Warsofsky. San Jose does not require a third.
Christopher Johnston: Regarding Morgan Rielly and the Maple Leafs: I still anticipate him being relocated, and I’m aware that there’s still a chance it will happen; the Sharks are no longer an option after trading for Darnell Nurse and signing Jacob Trouba.
The sell is made more difficult by Rielly’s own statistics.
This season, Rielly recorded 36 points in 78 games, including 11 goals and 25 assists, however he ended with a minus-18 rating.
He only had three points and was at minus-one over his final ten games, which was not the type of stretch that increases trade value.
In the meantime, Toronto is in decline. With a minus-46 goal differential and a seven-game losing streak, the Maple Leafs are ranked 28th overall at 32-36-14.
Relocating a defenseman earning $7,500,000 from a team in last place was always going to be tough. The pool of potential purchasers has just decreased.
Johnston still thinks there’s a chance a agreement may be reached, and that’s the portion that’s worth keeping in mind.
A market is not a place where one can buy hope. Every team that fills its blue line like San Jose did is one less phone call for Toronto to make.
It’s a little like selling a used car with a check-engine light on if you’re attempting to trade an elderly, high-cap defenseman from a terrible team. There are buyers, but they are choosy and are aware of their superior negotiating position.
To complete a deal, is Toronto’s front office willing to accept term or keep pay? That query has not been publicly addressed.
Johnston’s report does establish that as the offseason continues, the pool of teams prepared to accept Rielly’s complete contract is declining rather than expanding.
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