Next move Maple Leafs must make after hiring Jim Hiller as head coach

John Chayka has only been the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs for a little over a month now, and he’s already made sweeping changes to the organization both in terms of leadership behind the bench as well as on the ice.

His first major move as GM was to terminate head coach Craig Berube, who was only the second coach since 2004, behind Sheldon Keefe, to lead the club to a series victory in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, after missing the playoffs in 2025-26, Chayka felt the club’s chances for success were better served with a new voice leading the way.

Arriving in town is former Maple Leafs assistant coach Jim Hiller, who spent several years behind the bench as an assistant on Mike Babcock’s staff. He was also recently the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings until he was terminated earlier this season. Hiller and the Kings qualified for the postseason in 2024 and 2025, but were eliminated in the Western Conference Quarterfinal on both occasions by the Edmonton Oilers.

The Maple Leafs also traded goaltender Joseph Woll to the Philadelphia Flyers along with defenseman Simon Benoit, and received goaltender Samuel Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft in return.

While there has been rampant speculation regarding the futures of forwards Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies with the club, another player finding himself heavily embroiled in trade rumors is defenseman Morgan Rielly, who is the current longest-tenured member of the team. Rielly, who was selected by the Maple Leafs in the opening round (fifth overall pick) of the 2012 NHL Draft, has been a mainstay on the Toronto blue line since the 2013-14 season.

However, it may be best for both sides to make a clean break from one another in what has already been shown to be a new era of Leafs hockey under Chayka.

The Maple Leafs need to trade Morgan Rielly

Rielly has been nothing but a loyal soldier for the Maple Leafs, enduring several years of frustrating regular-season hockey coupled with multiple heartbreaking losses in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But his best years are behind him, and professional sports are a business.

Rielly is still under contract for four more seasons with a considerable salary cap hit of $7.5 million. Even with the cap expected to rise, a trade of Rielly would offer the Maple Leafs valuable cap space with which to work.

Additionally, Rielly has been one of the few constants throughout Toronto’s repeated playoff disappointments. While it would be unfair to place all of the blame on his shoulders, his value to the club may have run its course. Much like Chayka determined a change was necessary behind the bench, it could be equally beneficial for the Maple Leafs to pursue a new direction on the blue line moving forward.

Rielly could also fetch the Maple Leafs multiple younger assets in return as they look to build for the long-term future. Multiple teams, including the San Jose Sharks, have been listed as potential fits for Rielly, who would have to agree to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade.

It wouldn’t be an easy thing, but the best thing for the Maple Leafs moving forward would be to part ways with Rielly for younger talent.

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