All Purpose Morgan Rielly Discussion

[Wafflewhipper]

He’s the best D we have and had for a really long time. I’d take him over Kaberle tbh. The issue is he’s leaned on too heavily in all situations. I’ll also say, I don’t think we’ve ever gotten a truly good partner for him. I think him and Brodie will grow into a good pairing though.

Why do you think Brodie is a good Partner for him in hockey terms. It doesn’t look like Brodie can figure out what he is going to do next. Maybe if he had a consistency in his game it would make Brodies adjustment more stable.
The loss to Edmonton was “just” one of those games he said a couple days ago. Yeah right, this guy just minimizing everything gets sickening

 

[The Iceman]

I was hoping people were joking but for real, people doubting Morgan's heart and character?

Wear's an A
Averaging 24:27/night
Short memories must forget his OT winner against the hated Habs with blood rolling down his face.
Still only 26 with his best years ahead

We need more Morgan's not less.

 

[Critical13]

Bo Horvat for Reilly.

Horvat has PLD value. Rielly doesn’t get them interested.

 

[Critical13]

I was hoping people were joking but for real, people doubting Morgan's heart and character?

Wear's an A
Averaging 24:27/night
Short memories must forget his OT winner against the hated Habs with blood rolling down his face.
Still only 26 with his best years ahead

We need more Morgan's not less.

Why do people think we are doubting his heart and character?

I am doubting his ability to match up as a #1D. Nothing to do with intangibles.

Everybody wants the team to be better defensively but almost no one is willing to call a spade a spade and recognize that Mo is really, really struggling with his current role.

Are we going to lose Holl Dermott to expansion to protect him? And I would say you have to protect him, but if you do, are you willing to sign him to 6+ a year to justify losing one of those guys?

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I love Rielly but seems like playing with Brodie his defensive weaknesses are getting exposed ... he is starting to run around in his end more ... he must stop this and stand his ground and protect our net ... our defensive coach must be telling him this bad info .. he is big enough to put his body in front of someone and push them into wall

 

[Critical13]

I love Rielly but seems like playing with Brodie his defensive weaknesses are getting exposed ... he is starting to run around in his end more ... he must stop this and stand his ground and protect our net ... our defensive coach must be telling him this bad info .. he is big enough to put his body in front of someone and push them into wall

Agreed, and the problem is amplified when his offensive instincts are not there either. He’s not exactly creating a lot of offence these days on top of his defensive end struggles.

 

[Gallagbi]

Seems like he's trying to get opportunities instead of create them. He's happy to skate for a pass, but reluctant to battle for possession or get in a lane right now, which kills our time with the puck and his offensive opportunities

 

[The Iceman]

It’s been 2 seasons since Mo has looked like a #1 D and even then, it was only offensively.

Mo hasn’t been that guy since the start of 2019-2020 and I don’t know why we keep telling ourselves he is.

He needs to be sheltered 5v5 at this point and that is not something you say about a #1 D.

On top of that, he’s losing value as each day passes and I don’t see any reality where we can afford to pay a defenceman that can’t defend 6+ a season.

If he is losing value every day his contract demands will follow suit won't they?

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Agreed, and the problem is amplified when his offensive instincts are not there either. He’s not exactly creating a lot of offence these days on top of his defensive end struggles.

His speed needs to create his opportunities and it has and it will ... he needs more time with Brodie to better understand how Brodie works ... i would put them on 2nd pair to give them easier minutes to figure it out ... only based on last night Holl and Muzzy maybe better with tougher minutes ( I am not sold on Holl but last night he was our best defender no doubt) ... it is a tough one but we likely get more Rielly offense if he is up against Drai ... but our coach needs to see this early in games and make adjustments

 

[Critical13]

If he is losing value every day his contract demands will follow suit won't they?

Hes losing value because his term is running out. I think he will get 6+ for his pedigree even if he continues to struggle.

 

[moon111]

There's 217 defenseman who've play a game in the NHL this season. Out of those, Morgan Rielly is the 120th oldest. He hasn't even hit the medium age yet! Morgan Reilly is younger then Muzzin, TJ Brodie, Zack Hogosian, Justin Holl, and Mikko Lehtonen.

In the past, fans have argued that players can improve their game while playing in the NHL. Granted they might be right, but are they truly going to be as motivated as someone digging in to make the NHL? Rielly has come in at a young age and never played for an NHL team with any systematic defense. Defense by team? Sorry we don't do that here, here let me show you a hail-mary pass up the middle to a cherry-picking forward for you. We're worried about the adjustment Mikko Lehtonen might have to make? Think Rielly is in the same boat, but let's not forget he's actually still young. He has dimensions in his game that at times are truly needed and truthfully should be exploited, which at times might mean forwards have to cover for him. Still, there has to be some carrot dangled to make him want to improve his defensive game. Perhaps it's his next contract? Playing-time?

And although this always popped up with Kaberle, I don't see why they don't put Reilly on the LW, especially if you were trying to break in someone like Sandin or Lehtonen. If the coach felt they were over their heads, you could always drop Reilly back on the blueline.

 

[The Iceman]

Why do people think we are doubting his heart and character?

I am doubting his ability to match up as a #1D. Nothing to do with intangibles.

Everybody wants the team to be better defensively but almost no one is willing to call a spade a spade and recognize that Mo is really, really struggling with his current role.

Are we going to lose Holl Dermott to expansion to protect him? And I would say you have to protect him, but if you do, are you willing to sign him to 6+ a year to justify losing one of those guys?

Well you did drop a like on to this post:

He’s out to lunch. No effort, poor decisions every shift. He deserves a thread like this in a negative context. If you don’t want to pay the price get outta town. The man has no fire. None

 

[notbias]

Play some of our best defensive hockey over the last few games, we must trade the D getting the most ice-time, something is wrong!

 

[Budz]

Horvat has PLD value. Rielly doesn’t get them interested.

...but many of your are saying he’s a #1 dman?

 

[Critical13]

His speed needs to create his opportunities and it has and it will ... he needs more time with Brodie to better understand how Brodie works ... i would put them on 2nd pair to give them easier minutes to figure it out ... only based on last night Holl and Muzzy maybe better with tougher minutes ( I am not sold on Holl but last night he was our best defender no doubt) ... it is a tough one but we likely get more Rielly offense if he is up against Drai ... but our coach needs to see this early in games and make adjustments

It’s really hard to give them easier minutes without dropping them to the third pairing.

Holl Muzzin are already getting all the dzone starts. Hard to hand Rielly easier minutes without basically taking him and Brodie out of the game.

I’d like to see Dermott or Lehtonen get a shot with Brodie for a few games. Give Mo some 3rd pairing minutes against 3rd and 4th lines.

 

[Gallagbi]

Play some of our best defensive hockey over the last few games, we must trade the D getting the most ice-time, something is wrong!

Question is whether he supported those defensive efforts or if it was as in spite of him

 

[JT AM da real deal]

It’s really hard to give them easier minutes without dropping them to the third pairing.

Holl Muzzin are already getting all the dzone starts. Hard to hand Rielly easier minutes without basically taking him and Brodie out of the game.

I’d like to see Dermott or Lehtonen get a shot with Brodie for a few games. Give Mo some 3rd pairing minutes against 3rd and 4th lines.

You can't do that to a team leader it just doesn't work ... Mo is heart beat of team ... you might as well kick him in da head

 

[Critical13]

Well you did drop a like on to this post:

He’s out to lunch. No effort, poor decisions every shift. He deserves a thread like this in a negative context. If you don’t want to pay the price get outta town. The man has no fire. None

That’s fair, I don’t think Mo has a lack of heart. I think he just is what he has always been. We can’t pair him with a Parayko to cover his huge deficiencies, and now we’re at risk of losing a good dman to protect and sign him to a sizeable cap hit.

At the very least, I’d like someone else to get minutes with Brodie and just see how they fair. We have too much loyalty to our guys.

 

[mrJT]

I would deffo Trade Rielly if we can do a one for one with another top tier Dman

 

[Critical13]

You can't do that to a team leader it just doesn't work ... Mo is heart beat of team ... you might as well kick him in da head

I know we just won, but I am less worried about conserving the status quo in our room than with seeing real improvements. If Mo can’t handle a demotion aka PLD...well.

 

[notbias]

Question is whether he supported those defensive efforts or if it was as in spite of him

If we move him, someone else is facing top-quality opponents now. I am guessing Dermott, does he look good playing 22 mins a night against Draisaitl or McDavid? It is a 6 game sample size of Brodie-Rielly, I think we wait this one out, Rielly is never going to be a #1 shutdown D, but he has shown he can be decent defensively and elite on offense.

 

[Critical13]

If we move him, someone else is facing top-quality opponents now. I am guessing Dermott, does he look good playing 22 mins a night against Draisaitl or McDavid? It is a 6 game sample size of Brodie-Rielly, I think we wait this one out, Rielly is never going to be a #1 shutdown D, but he has shown he can be decent defensively and elite on offense.

Where has that elite offence gone?

If nothing else, we should at least give Sandin/Dermott/Lehtonen a chance with Brodie in my opinion.

 

[mrJT]

If we move him, someone else is facing top-quality opponents now. I am guessing Dermott, does he look good playing 22 mins a night against Draisaitl or McDavid? It is a 6 game sample size of Brodie-Rielly, I think we wait this one out, Rielly is never going to be a #1 shutdown D, but he has shown he can be decent defensively and elite on offense.

His defensive woes, inability to shoot or stick handle is what has made me think we'd be better off trading him for another top pairing D.
Unfortunately he's not getting any better defensively, if we wanna win the Cup he can't be on the top pair and we can't afford to pay him 7-8 million a year on his next contract.

 

[zeke]

Can't be dumping players every time they struggle.

But yes, he's been terrible so far.

But he'll be good again soon.

 

[mrJT]

Can't be dumping players every time they struggle.

But yes, he's been terrible so far.

But he'll be good again soon.

Even when he's going offensively is it worth it when his Defensive game is terrible and has seemingly never improved.
I don't think it is.