The Toronto Maple Leafs have several needs going into the summer, if they hope to return to the postseason after a dramatic downturn last season. GM John Chayka is likely looking to make changes to the roster, and an area he is likely to focus on is the blueline.
The focal point of potential changes is the longest-serving Leaf in Morgan Rielly. The 32-year-old was not open to waiving his no-movement clause last summer, and despite his saying he loves and wants to play in Toronto, a series of insiders say the veteran blueliner is headed out of town. Other reports indicate that Chayka has not presented a potential deal to Rielly, and if there are no offers beneficial to the Leafs, it is possible he will return next season.
Rielly is still a good NHL defenseman, but does not have the mobility that he had a few years ago. Clearing his $7.5 million cap hit would be a positive, but not if the whole purpose is to give it to a free agent like Darren Raddysh, who out of nowhere scored over 20 goals in his walk year. It would be better for Toronto to keep Rielly and play him in a lesser role than trade him for next to nothing.
The Leafs have a solid veteran contingent of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, and a healthy Chris Tanev, who are all under contract past next season, and have to determine what the future of Brandon Carlo in the organization will be. The 29-year-old has one year left at just under $3.5 million, and would be an attractive trade piece either this summer or before the deadline if Chayka is not interested in extending him.
The Colorado native is a prototypical stay-at-home defender, and being right-handed with a low cap hit may make him extremely attractive to contending teams, but the Leafs are likely looking to make a player-for-player swap rather than just recouping draft picks. One name that has popped up as a possible target for Chayka is Utah defenseman and former Leaf draft pick Sean Durzi.
The 27-year-old is signed for two more seasons at a $6 million AAV and has a modified no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1. After posting a career-high 41 points in Arizona in 2023-24, the Mississauga native has struggled in Salt Lake City the last two seasons. Durzi does fit the profile of what the Leafs might be looking for. Mobile, right-handed, with offensive instincts and a reasonable contract, which would be a better option than being in a bidding war for a 30-year-old Raddysh, who could be a one-year flash-in-the-pan.
In terms of the club’s blueline depth. Simon Benoit regressed last season and was not dependable on many nights, but he does provide size, which could be attractive to other teams at a $1.35 million cap hit. Philippe Myers should be placed on waivers and sent to the American Hockey League to prevent him from costing the Leafs victories next season, and there is talk of the club bringing back veteran journeyman Troy Stecher.
The Toronto Marlies run to the Calder Cup Final has provided two possible options at training camp in 24-year-old William Villeneuve and 2024 first-rounder Ben Danford. Villeneuve got only a marginal opportunity in three games at the end of the regular season, but has been excellent for the Marlies in their run to the final, with 16 points (2 goals, 14 assists – 2nd in league playoff scoring) in 17 games.
The 20-year-old Danford has been solid as a rock and not phased by playoff pressure since joining the Marlies early May. He will not be an offensive dynamo in the NHL, but Danford does have the mobility and defensive instincts to plug in as a bottom-pairing blueliner at some point next season.
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