Anaheim Ducks could land Morgan Rielly in July trade

Chris Johnston expects Morgan Rielly to be moved this offseason after the Sharks signed Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba on July 1.

Projected Anaheim blue line leaves roster gap

The Ducks lost Radko Gudas, Jacob Trouba and John Carlson from the second-round playoff roster, creating three open NHL spots on defense. Puckpedia depth charts show only five confirmed NHL defensemen under contract for 2026-27, leaving the team short by two roster players before any trades.

Johnston noted on The Chris Johnston Show that Anaheim does not have enough NHL defensemen to move forward. The team added no new blue-liners between July 1 and July 5, the date of the broadcast.

Rielly’s $7.5 million cap hit for 2026-27 would fit inside Anaheim’s projected $12.8 million in available space. The Ducks have not yet used their July 1 window to sign any veteran free-agent defensemen beyond the two big contracts already given to Nurse and Trouba by San Jose.

Toronto has signaled openness to moving Rielly, with Johnston stating there is still hope a deal can happen. The Maple Leafs retain $2.1 million in retained salary on the contract, reducing the cost to any acquiring team.

Toronto’s summer trade timeline

Rielly was placed on the trade market after the 2026 playoffs. Toronto has already moved two other defensemen, freeing $9.4 million in cap space before any Rielly transaction.

The Sharks eliminated themselves as a destination by committing $13.6 million annually to Nurse and Trouba on July 1. Johnston confirmed no other teams had matched Anaheim’s roster need by the time of the July 5 podcast.

A trade before the July 15 deadline would allow Anaheim to enter training camp with a full six-man blue line. Any later deal would force the Ducks to rely on AHL call-ups for the first month of the season.

Rielly, 32, has played 892 NHL games and recorded 0.62 points per game over the past three seasons. His 22:41 average ice time in 2025-26 ranked third among Toronto defensemen.

Cap and roster implications for both clubs

Anaheim would assume $5.4 million in real dollars after retention, leaving roughly $7.4 million for additional roster moves. The Ducks hold three first-round picks in the next two drafts, giving Toronto multiple paths to recoup assets.

Toronto would receive at least a first-round pick and a prospect, according to Johnston’s assessment of similar recent deals. The Maple Leafs would then have $9.6 million in new cap space to pursue other free agents before training camp.

No other Western Conference team has publicly expressed interest in Rielly since the Sharks’ signings. Johnston listed Anaheim as the only remaining plausible fit on the July 5 episode.

The transaction would mark the second time in three offseasons that Toronto has traded a long-tenured core defenseman. Rielly’s no-movement clause expires after the 2026-27 season, giving the Ducks one year of control before unrestricted free agency.