The Detroit Red Wings are still on the upswing. Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Patrick Kane are key ingredients in the competitive soup that Steve Yzerman is brewing. They are one (or two) pieces away from being a real playoff threat for the upcoming season.
Heavy.com proposed a trade idea that would land them Morgan Rielly, an elite offensive blueliner. The Toronto Maple Leafs star would add more punch from the backend, giving Axel Sandin-Pellikka more time to develop.
Red Wings Acquire:
- Morgan Rielly ($7.5 million)
Maple Leafs Acquire:
- Ben Chiarot ($4.75 million)
- Sebastian Cossa ($863,334)
- Eddie Genborg (Prospect)
- Conditional 3rd-round 2026 draft pick
This proposal gives the Red Wings a proven offensive talent in Rielly. The 31-year-old left-handed defender was drafted by the Maple Leafs fifth overall in 2012. The 6-foot-1, 225 lb blueliner recorded 41 points in 82 regular season games this past season.
The Maple Leafs would acquire Ben Chiarot, a 6-foot-3, 224 lb defender. The 34-year-old was drafted 120th overall in 2009 by the Atlanta Thrashers before they relocated and became the Winnipeg Jets. He recorded 13 points and 127 hits in 81 games.
They would also add goalie Sebastian Cossa. The 22-year-old was selected 15th overall in 2021. The Red Wings prospect stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 229 lbs. In the 2024-25 season, he recorded 15 wins in 41 AHL games. The youngster also recorded a 2.45 goals against average (GAA), a .911 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.
Eddie Genborg was just selected 44th overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The 18-year-old winger is 6-foot-1 and 179 lbs. He split his season between J20 and the SHL.
The Maple Leafs would also receive a conditional third-round 2026 selection that becomes a second-round selection if the Red Wings make the playoffs.
Red Wings Would Give Morgan Rielly a Fresh Start
Some NHL insiders have reported that Rielly could be on the move.
Sportsnet media personality Nick Kypreos has reported on the Maple Leafs’ desire to change things up with their core, even after the Mitch Marner trade.
“GM Brad Treliving is aiming to give his team a new look next season and change over part of the core,” Kypreos wrote. “Given the blue line is in a good place and forward is where the Leafs have more questions and holes to fill, might they look to flip a blueliner for, ideally, a top-six scorer?”
“If asked, would the 31-year-old Rielly be open to a fresh start?”
David Pagnotta is another insider who has speculated on Rielly’s future in Toronto.
“Rielly has a full no-movement clause and controls his fate,” Pagnotta wrote in his Summer Trade Watch board. “During his exit interview with the media in May, Rielly said he hadn’t thought about leaving Toronto, but speculation across the league suggests the Leafs may explore a move.”
Emergence of Red Wings Youngster Makes Chiarot Expendable
Simon Edvinsson played his first full NHL season this past year. The Detroit coaching staff is very pleased with his development to this point.
“He’s a harder player now,” McLellan said in April of Edvinsson’s evolution over his tenure (via Detroit Hockey Now). “He’s more aggressive now. He is more responsible for the good and the bad things that happen during a game.”
“There’s still more runway there for him to keep going.”
The 6-foot-6 defender recorded 31 points in 78 games. Edvinsson averaged 21:07 in ice time per game. He also recorded 86 shots, 86 hits, and 144 blocks.
Rielly Could Thrive With Red Wings
With Chiarot gone, Rielly could be paired with Seider or newcomer Jacob Bernard-Docker.
However, Rielly could give the Red Wings’ powerplay a boost. The Maple Leafs defender is a significant powerplay contributor. Of his 514 career points, 174 of them have been on the powerplay. He has scored at least 20 points with the man advantage in four seasons. In 2024-25, he recorded 14 powerplay points.
Rielly has recorded at least 40 points in five of his last seven NHL seasons. In 2018-19, he scored 20 goals and added 52 assists for a 72-point season. That year, he finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting.
Rielly has five years left on his current contract, paying him $7.5 million per season. The Red Wings have just over $12 million in cap space.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Red Wings Trade Pitch Adds Former 72-Point Blueliner Now appeared first on Heavy Sports.