Morgan Rielly has been in the NHL for 10 seasons, so it’s tough to surprise the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman anymore.
When Toronto decided to part ways with general manager Kyle Dubas in May following a second-round playoff loss, Rielly admitted he didn’t totally see the move coming, but wasn’t shocked.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but I’ve gotten used to being surprised,” Rielly said during a recent interview on Jake’s Takes, which features a 13-year-old host. “I think my first few years when players got traded — obviously teammates, but also friends — when they leave, you’re taken aback. Then, you just get used to a new reality. I think that was the case with Kyle leaving.”
The Leafs hired longtime Calgary Flames executive Brad Treliving as their new GM, while Dubas landed the president of hockey operations role with the Pittsburgh Penguins before later naming himself the club’s general manager.
With all the changes being made higher up the food chain, Rielly says the Leafs’ players aren’t looking in the rear-view mirror and are completely focused on next season.
“We don’t spend too much time really worrying about it or thinking about it now,” Rielly said. “We’re just onward, and we’re thinking about the next thing. Our group is outstanding.
“I spent time with [Treliving] and with [head coach Sheldon Keefe] and all the staff, and I think we’re in a great spot. So, at this point, we’re just trying to look forward, and we’re pumped about where we’re at and what’s going on. I think everybody feels good now, which is really all that matters.”
Toronto still has some major pieces of business on its plate ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, as Auston Matthews and William Nylander are eligible to sign contract extensions. Both star forwards are entering the final year of their respective deals.
While there is still some work to do for Treliving, he has made a number of moves already, bringing in forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reaves, defenseman John Klingberg and goaltender Martin Jones.
Dubas has been keeping busy as well, as the Penguins made the biggest move of the offseason by acquiring reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks.
