The Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly considered trading Morgan Rielly this summer. The veteran defenseman has lost a step on the ice. He is not exactly a liability, as he remains an effective puck mover. But he is clearly not the player he used to be.

Rielly did not move this summer. He remains with the Maple Leafs, the only team he has known in his career. One can imagine the stress he went through with all the uncertainty. With his place in Toronto secured, he is looking to put the rumors behind him for now.

“I’m extremely happy and grateful to be here now. This is my home. This is the team that I love and I would do anything for. So, I feel very grateful to be here, and just really excited to get going,” the Maple Leafs veteran said, via Sportsnet.

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Rielly has been a mainstay on the Maple Leafs blueline for a while now. He was the team's most consistent defenseman through the late 2010s and early 2020s. Unfortunately, he has started to decline as he has struggled with injuries.

Many connected the veteran defenseman to the San Jose Sharks this summer. However, the Sharks went elsewhere for their defensive upgrades. They signed Jacob Trouba in NHL free agency while also trading for Darnell Nurse in a deal with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Maple Leafs have already kicked off their preseason slate of games. The offseason is behind them, and Rielly is putting it all behind him, as well. Perhaps he can find some sort of resurgence in 2026-27, and help Toronto return to the postseason.