Analyst says it's time for the Leafs to re-evaluate how they deploy Morgan Rielly, since his level of play hasn't been up to par
Since being drafted 5th overall in the 2012 NHL draft and being called "the best player in the draft" by then Leafs GM Brian Burke, Morgan Rielly has had tremendous expectations placed on him. For the most part he's met these expectations, as he's been a top pairing defenseman for the Leafs for nearly a decade. However, lately, it seems as though Rielly's play has fallen off and his usage and role may need to be reevaluated.
Rielly missed 15 games with a knee injury near the start of the season and the Leafs went 12-2-1 without him; the second-best points percentage in the league over that span at .833. When he returned, the Leafs sputtered and went on a .500 stretch where he looked fairly out of place. Fans and management were willing to give him some time to find his game, but it's fairly obvious the patience is now beginning to wear thin and that the coaching staff may have to look at his usage and how to best deploy him.
This morning on SN 590 The FAN, Ailish Forfar touched on Morgan Rielly and perhaps the need for the Leafs to slide him down the depth chart, regardless of the lofty price tag he now carries.
"I just can't find the answer for Morgan Rielly - and that's what's frustrating... it shouldn't feel like need to find the answer for a player that's going to be here long-term
[Reilly] is a guy that you've put a lot of investment into, but this season has been a question mark around how to amplify and elevate Morgan Rielly and they've been able to do that with other players. Is T.J. Brodie the 'fix' for Morgan Rielly? Having to 'fix' a player is [tough], especially for someone [who will have a long-term impact] for the Maple Leafs"
[Reilly] is a guy that you've put a lot of investment into, but this season has been a question mark around how to amplify and elevate Morgan Rielly and they've been able to do that with other players. Is T.J. Brodie the 'fix' for Morgan Rielly? Having to 'fix' a player is [tough], especially for someone [who will have a long-term impact] for the Maple Leafs"
Not the kind of dialogue you want to be having about a 28-year-old defenseman who makes $7.5 million and has barely started his 8-year deal he signed in 2021. Time will tell, but if the Leafs are going to make any type of a deep playoff run this year, they'll need a lot more from Rielly than his current level of play.
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
| POLL | ||
MARS 8 | 513 ANSWERS Analyst says it's time for the Leafs to re-evaluate how they deploy Morgan Rielly, since his level of play hasn't been up to par Is Rielly still a top 2 defenseman on the Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 140 | 27.3 % |
| No | 303 | 59.1 % |
| Maybe with Brodie | 70 | 13.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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