A question re: Morgan Rielly

[meefer]

I noticed Mo playing RD a couple of shifts in the 2nd and at least 1 shift in the 3rd. Especially in the 2nd, there were a couple of times where he was challenged wide and he looked quite comfortable pivoting to his right and cutting off his opponent. When playing LD, I think I see Mo pulling to his right and then pivoting to his left, while at the same time dragging his stick (right hand dominant) behind and slow to the outside challenge and is often beat going wide. Maybe I'm nuts, but are others seeing something similar? Are there any skating experts out here who can comment? Or am I just out to lunch? I thought he looked pretty darned good on the right side.

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[Auston 316]

I thought him being a step behind was cuz he seems to take terrible angles to cut guys/the puck off at times...

 

[Mickey Marner]

I noticed Mo playing RD a couple of shifts in the 2nd and at least 1 shift in the 3rd. Especially in the 2nd, there were a couple of times where he was challenged wide and he looked quite comfortable pivoting to his right and cutting off his opponent. When playing LD, I think I see Mo pulling to his right and then pivoting to his left, while at the same time dragging his stick (right hand dominant) behind and slow to the outside challenge and is often beat going wide. Maybe I'm nuts, but are others seeing something similar? Are there any skating experts out here who can comment? Or am I just out to lunch? I thought he looked pretty darned good on the right side.

Interesting observation. I didn't notice and I'd have to look for it specifically to comment. It would be ironic if all these years we spent looking for a top-pair RD we had one all along.

 

[meefer]

I thought him being a step behind was cuz he seems to take terrible angles to cut guys/the puck off at times...

Terrible...uhhhhmmm...poor? That's why I'm hoping to hear from those who know skating better than I. I think he pulls to his right before pivoting to his left when playing LD, which would result in your observation, and I didn't notice this tonight when he was playing RD. Also, his stick doesn't lag behind when playing RD and becomes more effective at disrupting plays.

 

[meefer]

Interesting observation. I didn't notice and I'd have to look for it specifically to comment. It would be ironic if all these years we spent looking for a top-pair RD we had one all along.

Small sample, just something that struck me in the 2nd and I'm curious what others think.

 

[shaner8989]

He’s been straight putrid so far

 

[Stephen]

Didn't notice it too much other than the Leafs defensive pairs collapsing to the net and things getting very scrambly (not in a bad way). Thing that's bugging me about Rielly is his tendency to sometimes want to rifle the puck down the ice to make a play, or force a pass from the blueline and just wish he would take the extra half second to assess his options. TJ Brodie is interesting to watch because he seems to like holding the puck for just a split second longer than you think he should, or one extra touch. Maybe that could rub off on Morgan.

 

[meefer]

He’s been straight putrid so far

A fine contribution to the nature of the thread.

 

[Zybalto]

Riellys numbers:

CF%: 59.48 (+1.88 REL)
xGF%: 53.76 (-2.6 REL)

He's been just okay. Expect more from him of course but its early and lets see how everyone is doing in a couple of weeks.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Riellys numbers:

CF%: 59.48 (+1.88 REL)
xGF%: 53.76 (-2.6 REL)

He's been just okay. Expect more from him of course but its early and lets see how everyone is doing in a couple of weeks.

One thing to also keep in mind is that this guy is averaging 25:33 minutes a night for us right now, and he's playing about as tough minutes as you can ask out of a defenseman.

The relative may not look nice, but that is mostly because everyone except Bogosian and our 4th line is dominating possession right now.

 

[Leafs87]

Reilly’s game is all about transition and moving the puck. He’s definitely better on his strong side. The advantage to putting him on his off side would be he might hit more and it’s somewhat easier to strip pucks with a poke check. But a bad attempt at a poke check or hit and you’re out of position and flat footed. He rarely hits anyways. The offside is also ideal for big shooters. Seldom do I see a clapper as disappointing as Rielly’s. He does have the mobility for his off side though. All in all i like Brodie on the right side

 

[meefer]

Reilly’s game is all about transition and moving the puck. He’s definitely better on his strong side. The advantage to putting him on his off side would be he might hit more and it’s somewhat easier to strip pucks with a poke check. But a bad attempt at a poke check or hit and you’re out of position and flat footed. He rarely hits anyways. The offside is also ideal for big shooters. Seldom do I see a clapper as disappointing as Rielly’s. He does have the mobility for his off side though. All in all i like Brodie on the right side

I'm not suggesting bumping Brodie, but if this gif works, perhaps you'll see what I was attempting to describe.

 

[Leafs87]

I'm not suggesting bumping Brodie, but if this gif works, perhaps you'll see what I was attempting to describe.

View attachment 385736

That has Brodie on his offside. I totally pissed that play, Rielly really overcommitted there. He should of backed up a bit before attempting a poke check with 3 plays in the zone. He really has to work on his stick positioning for defending rather than totally committing to a poke check.

 

[meefer]

That has Brodie on his offside. I totally pissed that play, Rielly really overcommitted there. He should of backed up a bit before attempting a poke check with 3 plays in the zone. He really has to work on his stick positioning for defending rather than totally committing to a poke check.

Forgive me, I'm unsure of how your comment about overcommitment applys. Really, all I'm trying to do is find out whether MR plays LD differently the RW. I see different defensive skills, I'm wondering if I am wrong. I see him moving right and then pivoting left. It provides opportunities for the O players. I don't/didn't see this happening when he shifted to RD. I've no vid to support my idea. I know this is a 'knitpicky' sort of question, but is my observation correct, does it affect the D as we know it?

I'm only asking questions. I'm quite happy to discuss, and hope that those who know better will contribute. It leads me to wonder if a better D corp can be developed, ie...

Muzzin Brodie
Dermott Rielly
Lehtonen/Sandin Holl
Sandin/Lehtonen Bogo

Just curious.

 

[Terrible GM]

I'm not suggesting bumping Brodie, but if this gif works, perhaps you'll see what I was attempting to describe.

View attachment 385736

I don't have a problem with that play in the gif. Rielly has his his man (Perreault) contained, has an active stick, and then makes the decision to cut off as Perreault who looking to be gaining entry along the boards. Perreault then makes a split second call to stop and pass. Rielly has to trust his teammates to have the jet plays in the slot. The vast majority of time players do try to take that inside lane along the boards.

As for playing the right side D, I only noticed this a few times when the Leafs were in the offensive zone and the D swapped sides to create a one timer opportunity from the point and also they kept Lehtonen on the left side last night most shifts, and I recall seeing a shift of Rielly and Dermott on RD paired with Lehtonen.

I really think if Mo plays RD, it will hurt his offensive production. Those delays in receiving the puck and bringing it to his forehand, cost him a second. He would normally already have his pass off, but instead now has to just dump the puck down the boards because of player is on top of him at the point. Defensively I think you get the same player on either side.

 

[Leafs87]

Forgive me, I'm unsure of how your comment about overcommitment applys. Really, all I'm trying to do is find out whether MR plays LD differently the RW. I see different defensive skills, I'm wondering if I am wrong. I see him moving right and then pivoting left. It provides opportunities for the O players. I don't/didn't see this happening when he shifted to RD. I've no vid to support my idea. I know this is a 'knitpicky' sort of question, but is my observation correct, does it affect the D as we know it?

I'm only asking questions. I'm quite happy to discuss, and hope that those who know better will contribute. It leads me to wonder if a better D corp can be developed, ie...

Muzzin Brodie
Dermott Rielly
Lehtonen/Sandin Holl
Sandin/Lehtonen Bogo

Just curious.

Yeah sorry. The over committing, I just meant that he turned it into a situation where he went to stop the play and if he missed the D man would be gone by him. In this case the latter happened.

As for him playing RD, I really don’t recall any games from him on the right side. I know when Muzzin came in, neither really thrived on that side.


I would say more D do before more offensive on their offside.

 

[meefer]

I don't have a problem with that play in the gif. Rielly has his his man (Perreault) contained, has an active stick, and then makes the decision to cut off as Perreault who looking to be gaining entry along the boards. Perreault then makes a split second call to stop and pass. Rielly has to trust his teammates to have the jet plays in the slot. The vast majority of time players do try to take that inside lane along the boards.

As for playing the right side D, I only noticed this a few times when the Leafs were in the offensive zone and the D swapped sides to create a one timer opportunity from the point and also they kept Lehtonen on the left side last night most shifts, and I recall seeing a shift of Rielly and Dermott on RD paired with Lehtonen.

I really think if Mo plays RD, it will hurt his offensive production. Those delays in receiving the puck and bringing it to his forehand, cost him a second. He would normally already have his pass off, but instead now has to just dump the puck down the boards because of player is on top of him at the point. Defensively I think you get the same player on either side.

Thank you for the detailed reply. Do you think there might be a defensive benefit that offsets the lack of O? Net gain?

 

[Avilaj07]

It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of Rielly. Defensively he isn't good at all. He's constantly either getting beat to the outside or constantly over committing. His reads aren't good and has a very weak stick. As for offensively, he has all the tools but lacks the iq. Numerous times he holds onto the puck too long which either kills the play or he puts himself in a situation where there's no play at all.

If you remember his great season with Hainsey then you'd remember he just kept everything simple as opposed to forcing things. Rielly really needs to go back to focusing on defense and just keeping things simple offensively.

If I was Dubas, I'd definitely be hesitant on giving Rielly a massive extension and would keep my options open.

 

[Terrible GM]

Thank you for the detailed reply. Do you think there might be a defensive benefit that offsets the lack of O? Net gain?

Not really.. If he is on the right side, the opposition LW is likely shooting left (like last night, all LW were lefties) which would cause Rielly to have a much tougher time stick checking. This is normally why coaches want RD to be righties, and LD to be lefties. Just look at that gif, Perreault is playing his off-wing, he has a much easier time passing to the slot. I don't think Perreault was playing his off-wing on purpose, it was just a by product of the breakout, but that would be what Rielly or any Dman who shoots left playing on the right side would have to deal with.

 

[meefer]

Yeah sorry. The over committing, I just meant that he turned it into a situation where he went to stop the play and if he missed the D man would be gone by him. In this case the latter happened.

As for him playing RD, I really don’t recall any games from him on the right side. I know when Muzzin came in, neither really thrived on that side.

I would say more D do before more offensive on their offside.

I appreciate the input. I'm not sure he and Muzz had any real time together? Maybe they did?

Funnily, I'm not sold on Muzz and Mo as being a pair, and I like them both. Btw, I've no stats to back up the comment. Just a gut feeling.
However, I think Muzz and Brodie would be quite (very) (oh, wow) good...gut.
And, Dermott/Rielly against 2nd/3rd pairing...ok.

Leaving: Sandin/Lehtonen / Bogo/Liljegren (I've not given up on TM) is not my idea of trash.

Going back to my question(esque): does/can Rielly play RD better than LD, and does that change the Leafs Defensive dynamic?

 

[BAM]

It's no secret that I'm not a huge fan of Rielly. Defensively he isn't good at all. He's constantly either getting beat to the outside or constantly over committing. His reads aren't good and has a very weak stick. As for offensively, he has all the tools but lacks the iq. Numerous times he holds onto the puck too long which either kills the play or he puts himself in a situation where there's no play at all.

If you remember his great season with Hainsey then you'd remember he just kept everything simple as opposed to forcing things. Rielly really needs to go back to focusing on defense and just keeping things simple offensively.

If I was Dubas, I'd definitely be hesitant on giving Rielly a massive extension and would keep my options open.

If Rielly wants to stay and sign a contract under $8 million the Leafs 100% do it. You don't lose a top 15-20 D-man in all of hockey just because his defensive game isn't equal to his offensive game.

Rielly has averaged over 50 points the last 3 seasons and 1 season removed from finishing top 5 in Norris voting, pretty good for someone that lacks the iq.

If you're going to let Rielly walk you need to make sure you have an appropriate replacement...hint, there's none on the Leafs.

 

[meefer]

Not really.. If he is on the right side, the opposition LW is likely shooting left (like last night, all LW were lefties) which would cause Rielly to have a much tougher time stick checking. This is normally why coaches want RD to be righties, and LD to be lefties. Just look at that gif, Perreault is playing his off-wing, he has a much easier time passing to the slot. I don't think Perreault was playing his off-wing on purpose, it was just a by product of the breakout, but that would be what Rielly or any Dman who shoots left playing on the right side would have to deal with.

Thank you.

That is exactly where I'm wondering whether I'm seeing double. I saw Rielly at RD being better, stick wise, than LD. More active and effective because he's more comfortable pivoting right.

I appreciate the LD/RD bias, but I wonder if there are options that level or supercede?

 

[zeke]

Thank you.

That is exactly where I'm wondering whether I'm seeing double. I saw Rielly at RD being better, stick wise, than LD. More active and effective because he's more comfortable pivoting right.

I appreciate the LD/RD bias, but I wonder if there are options that level or supercede?

it's funny cuz the brief time Muzzin-Rielly was a pairing, they dominated.

but Babcock cried about Rielly being on the rightside.

 

[meefer]

it's funny cuz the brief time Muzzin-Rielly was a pairing, they dominated.

but Babcock cried about Rielly being on the rightside.

I've no answer other than to say I saw (at least I think I saw) a more defensively effective Rielly at RD as opposed to LD.

 

[meefer]

Let me simplify: Take all the times you've seen Mo on LD v RD and ask, on which side he plays do more dangerous moments occur?