Morgan Rielly's name has surfaced in trade speculation linking him to the San Jose Sharks, per The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta. Sharks general manager Mike Grier has made it clear he wants to upgrade the blue line this offseason, but does Toronto's longtime defenseman actually solve San Jose's problems, or does he create new ones?
Rielly is an offensive-minded blueliner who can quarterback a power play, but his defensive game has never been his strength, and his numbers under Craig Berube this past season suggest he's trending in the wrong direction. San Jose finished with the third-worst goals-against in the NHL; adding a defenseman who struggles in his own zone doesn't immediately address that glaring weakness.
RUMOR: The San Jose Sharks are targeting Morgan Rielly. Pagnotta reports San Jose wants to make the playoffs next year and needs a top-four D-man. Rielly has a full NMC, but the chance to play with Celebrini in California could be the pitch that works.https://t.co/wUnXLfSOMK
— NHL Trade Rumors (@nhltraderumours) April 20, 2026
Fit in the Lineup
At 31 years old, Rielly isn't the number-one defenseman he was once projected to be. He's a capable second-pairing option who can move the puck and contribute offensively, but asking him to anchor a top pair and handle the toughest assignments is a recipe for disaster.
The Hockey News' Adam Proteau highlighted Rielly's struggles back in January: "Rielly has clearly regressed this season. He's a team-worst minus-13 despite having 26 points in 42 games. You can chalk up some of that to averaging 21:55 of ice time, but compare that to McCabe, who is averaging 22:01 and is a plus-26 while chipping in 16 points, and you can see why Leafs fans have grown tired of Rielly's subpar defensive play."
Rielly finished 2025-26 with 11 goals and 36 points in 78 games, his lowest point total since the shortened 2020-21 season. The bright spot? His 11 goals matched his highest total since 2018-19, when he hit 20. But offensive production alone doesn't justify his role or his contract when the defensive metrics tell a different story.
He's occasionally filled in on the penalty kill, but he's not reliable enough in his own zone to be counted on regularly. His value lies in transition and power play work, not shutdown defense.
If San Jose acquires Rielly and slots him onto the second pairing, that leaves Dmitry Orlov as the team's top defenseman by default. Grier will almost certainly need to make additional moves to prevent that scenario, because relying on Orlov as a number-one option isn't a winning formula either.
The biggest concern with Rielly at this stage of his career is undoubtedly his contract. He's signed through the 2029-30 season with an average annual value of $7.5 million. The Sharks could handle that contract now, and the rising salary cap will help prevent it from becoming an albatross later on. With that said, players like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and quite a few others are going to be due for pay raises in the near future, which could quickly eat up cap space.
The main concern with an offensive defenseman in his early-to-mid 30s carrying a big contract is simply the fear of regression. Their legs can slow down at any moment, and they can lose a step without much warning. Rielly is still a very quick player, though; his maximum skating speed during the 2025-26 season was 22.71 miles per hour, which puts him in the 87th percentile around the NHL.
Shooting Tendency and Leadership
One area where Rielly has shown regression over the years is his shot. While he's never been known for having the hardest blast from the point, his fastest shot during the 2025-26 season was 87.13 miles per hour, according to NHL Edge. That's a reduction of four miles per hour from the season before, and 12 miles per hour slower than his all-time fastest recorded shot from 2021-22. His average shot power is also below league average for a defenseman, and he has a tendency to pass on taking one-timers from the point.
On the other hand, Rielly has been a key member of the Maple Leafs' leadership group for many years. He's been an alternate captain for Toronto since the 2016-17 season and was often praised earlier in his career for his locker room presence. As a result, he could be a good mentor for the Sharks' young players, especially a young offensive defenseman like Sam Dickinson. He should also, on paper, fit the locker room culture that the Sharks have been building as of late.
Tags: Morgan Rielly | San Jose Sharks | Toronto Maple Leafs | Mike Grier | NHL Trade Rumors
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