Morgan Rielly was slotted fifth on the list, while Matthew Knies placed 12th, with the rankings determined by the piece’s market impact and the buzz surrounding it. Both players being included is not entirely a shock given that Rielly’s future with the Leafs has been in question for at least a few summers now, while Knies was rumoured to be in trade discussions at the deadline by then-GM Brad Treliving.
Johnston wrote the following about where things stand with Rielly and how probable it is that he could indeed be packing his bags this summer:
With a new management group running the front office and a new coaching staff soon to be hired, this is a time of change in Toronto. That means the writing is on the wall for Rielly, the Leafs’ longest-tenured player, who has previously been unwilling to consider waiving his no-movement clause but has since softened on that stance. He still controls the process because of that mechanism in his contract, but a fresh start is looking increasingly likely.
Rielly has long maintained his stance that he loves being in Toronto and is unwilling to leave, so the fact that his stance on the matter has begun to soften is a surprising development. He is the longest-serving member on the team, having been drafted fifth overall in 2012 and making his debut during the 2013-14 season, and has been through a lot during his 14 years donning the Blue and White. There is certainly still a quality player with plenty of runway left in his career, but it is starting to seem more likely that his days as a Leaf may be coming to an end.
Given the fact that he still has four seasons remaining on his contract that carries an $7.5 million AAV and a no-movement clause, a potential trade package would not garner the Leafs a lot of quality back. With that being said, moving on from Rielly would mark a significant step in John Chayka and Mats Sundin’s mission to change the makeup of the blueline and perhaps there is a team that could bring forth a decent enough offer, like the San Jose Sharks.
As for Knies, Johnston wrote:
A young power forward with an ideal blend of size and skill who is signed until his late 20s, Knies is the kind of player NHL teams rarely, if ever, trade. That’s partly why the Maple Leafs considered it ahead of the March trade deadline. They felt he could bring back a bonanza of assets to reboot a program short on prospects and draft picks.
Either way, the Leafs seem to be on the cusp of a busy offseason full of changes as evidenced by Rielly and Knies appearing on Johnston’s first trade board of the summer.
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