Does Rumor Chart Linking Morgan Rielly to the Oilers Have Any Legs?

It’s been made clear that the Edmonton Oilers’ priority leading up to the March 6 NHL trade deadline is to acquire a top-nine forward — and preferably an impactful one. While that undoubtedly remains the case, it doesn’t mean GM Stan Bowman won’t also look to shore up the blue line in the process.

If the Oilers do add a defenseman, the expectation has been that it will come via a low-cost depth move, with names like Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn, and Carson Soucy fitting the bill. However, a recent rumor chart suggests they could be lurking around something much bigger — the exact opposite of that — in Morgan Rielly, a high-profile, big-ticket blueliner.

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Eklund’s NHL Trade and Free Agent Rumors shared an updated rumor chart highlighting some of the most talked-about names on the market and the teams they’ve heard them linked to. Rielly was notably connected to Dallas, Edmonton, Boston, and Detroit, with the Oilers holding the second-highest odds of any destination at 30 percent.

The 31-year-old Rielly is in year four of the eight-year, $60 million extension he signed with the Maple Leafs back in 2021. He’s registered 30 points (six goals, 24 assists) in 50 games played this season.

Morgan Rielly to the Oilers Doesn’t Make Much Sense

As much as Toronto might want to shed Rielly and his $7.5 million salary, Edmonton is very unlikely to be the team that helps make that happen.

The Oilers are obviously right up against the cap, and the only realistic way to make a Rielly deal work would be a one-for-one swap involving Darnell Nurse, which, frankly, isn’t happening, especially midseason. Doug MacLean floated the idea back in December, but even then, the chances of it happening were slim to none, especially given their respective full no-movement clauses.

Not to mention Rielly’s defensive struggles — which have persisted for years now — aren’t exactly what Edmonton needs to add on the backend. If they do want to bolster their blue line, expect Bowman to target a much cheaper and steadier option.

On the flip side, if Brad Treliving is serious about moving the longest-tenured Maple Leaf, he’ll need to find not only an interested suitor with the flexibility to absorb his contract, but also a destination Rielly is willing to waive for.

That’s an extremely tough needle to thread, especially between now and the deadline. As a result, if Rielly is ever traded, it feels far more likely to happen in the offseason — and not to Edmonton.

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