Morgan Rielly and the bat**** crazy takes

[meefer]

I don't know what it is about 'Leafs Nation', WTFTI, but reading a few threads and discovering that the Leafs D is better because Morgan is injured leaves me shaking my head. The need that some of this fan base has to find a 'target' to blame/reduce is unf***ingbelievable. And before I'm accused of being a fanboy, yes, Morgan has flaws. However, MR is one of the most consistent defensemen in the league. He point production is darned near elite, and as a leader, well many considered him as being the choice for Captain. He stands up for himself, and his team. He takes on media criticism/innuendo head on, and he's as supportive a teammate as we've seen. For the record, Morgan Rielly over the last 5 seasons is:

*the 6th highest scoring defenseman.
*sits 20th overall+/- during that span, and yes, I know it's a flawed statistic, nevertheless...
*has averaged 23:33 per night, the highest on the team.
*while known as a PP contributor, he's averaged the same amount of time on the PK as Carson Soucy, an oft mentioned target to 'bolster' the team.
*he's also averaged the 23rd most minutes on the PP, while contributing the 15th highest point total.
*of those who have played +/- 15 games to Rielly's total, his point production on the PP is equal to or better than: Theodor, Sergachev, Provorov, Shattenkirk, Dumba, Chabot, Jones, Hronek, Severson, Gio, Werenski, Heiskanen, Ristolanain, Fowler, Ekblad and Hamilton.
*points/60 all situations he sits 9th overall.
*he's 5th overall for points ES
*he trails by less than .01 PPP/60: Carlson and Doughty, and is above: Ekblad, Karlsson, Burns, Pietrangelo, Sergachev and Letang.
*points/game he sits 8th.

And his play elevates in the playoffs.

All this with a who's who of partners pre JT Brodie. What do people expect?

Click to read more...

 

[ACC1224]

People just looking for attention. Looks like it worked.

 

[keonsbitterness]

winning a few games while a player with a NMC in the first year of a long-term deal is injured ----> sudden rash of trade proposals

I'm giving Rielly 20 games.

 

[meefer]

People just looking for attention. Looks like it worked.

And you've never supported a player you think worthy?

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Rielly brings a lot of value with his leadership and transition ability, but he also has some pretty significant flaws. I don't think it's unreasonable to wonder if the Leafs might be better off giving him a smaller role when he gets back. It also seems pretty fair to feel trepidation at the idea of paying him big money on an 8 year contract

 

[Jojalu]

Rielly brings a lot of value with his leadership and transition ability, but he also has some pretty significant flaws. I don't think it's unreasonable to wonder if the Leafs might be better off giving him a smaller role when he gets back. It also seems pretty fair to feel trepidation at the idea of paying him big money on an 8 year contract

I mean, if you are not going to pay your #1 dman when he is 27, who exactly are you going to pay?

It might suck at the end but you get him for his best years.

Plus he took undermarket to stay.

 

[ULF_55]

I mean, if you are not going to pay your #1 dman when he is 27, who exactly are you going to pay?

It might suck at the end but you get him for his best years.

Plus he took undermarket to stay.

Yes, he took perhaps less dollars than he could have as UFA, but it is a good contract for both at this time.

Time will tell, if he was good for the Leafs, as 8 years is long term for someone whose best asset is his skating.

 

[ACC1224]

And you've never supported a player you think worthy?

For sure, an appreciation thread is always appreciated.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

I mean, if you are not going to pay your #1 dman when he is 27, who exactly are you going to pay?

It might suck at the end but you get him for his best years.

Plus he took undermarket to stay.

Paying a high price over 8 yearsfor a defenseman who isn't elite (like Makar, Hedman, Josi, etc.) typically isn't a good strategy for a team. It will hopefully be fine as the cap continues to go up, but I don't really think he's someone you should look at as a #1 defenseman and his contract stops the Leafs from getting a real one

 

[Anthrax442]

He is a beast in playoffs.

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Thread title sounds like a chapter in the Morgan Rielly adventure series.

 

[Doublerum1975]

Paying a high price over 8 yearsfor a defenseman who isn't elite (like Makar, Hedman, Josi, etc.) typically isn't a good strategy for a team. It will hopefully be fine as the cap continues to go up, but I don't really think he's someone you should look at as a #1 defenseman and his contract stops the Leafs from getting a real one

He makes 7.5 million i think he's paid just right

 

[saltming]

People just looking for attention. Looks like it worked.

Maybe that one.... Interesting poster that kept saying he had secret propriety stats that proved in conclusively that Rielly was at best a #5.
Other than that I believe there are a couple posters out there that believe he's a liability and makes the team worse

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Rielly brings a lot of value with his leadership and transition ability, but he also has some pretty significant flaws. I don't think it's unreasonable to wonder if the Leafs might be better off giving him a smaller role when he gets back. It also seems pretty fair to feel trepidation at the idea of paying him big money on an 8 year contract

Do you really think Keefe is going to approach Rielly and say that "we're reducing your minutes, and we're taking you off of PP1"?

 

[Stephen]

I think Rielly's been very poor this year, but it coincided with the Leafs early season struggles which reflected in Rielly's fire drill defensive coverage and mediocre PP puck movement. He was forcing a lot offensively and getting burned on the counter attack. And just flat out sloppy in a lot of OT situations. The last time he was this bad was probably in the 2021 North Division. This can be true along with his resume and accomplishments.

Obviously I would rather have all hands on deck with a healthy Rielly than without, but he's not immune to criticism.

 

[Buds17]

Perhaps some prefer a certain skill set in a defenceman? Maybe it's the fact that the team has a chunk of cap allocated to only a handful of players? For my part, I certainly wouldn't be an advocate for a trade in this instance.

 

[Enniskillen]

He is a decent offensive D, however he is overrated defensively. Leafs need another type of 1D, who can play in front of the net like weber did in an infamous series not a long time ago.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Thread title sounds like a chapter in the Morgan Rielly adventure series.

Morgan Rielly Returns: The Sheltering Begins

 

[BertCorbeau]

TBH Rielly’s probably been the Leafs best/most consistent playoff performer in this era.. he’s always stepped up and played great.

Not going to let a 3 game sample size without him dictate otherwise.

He certainly has his flaws but they’re not as bad as perceived. He’s paid appropriately as a low end #1D, high end #2D.

 

[mclaren55]

People just like to run whatever narrative fits their feelings.

The guy we are talking about was on a 6 game point streak (7A) going into the game he got injured, yet we are “better” without him.

 

[DarkKnight]

Are we better without TJ Brodie? I mean.

Get well soon Morgs.

 

[Martin Skoula]

TBH Rielly’s probably been the Leafs best/most consistent playoff performer in this era.. he’s always stepped up and played great.

Not going to let a 3 game sample size without him dictate otherwise.

He certainly has his flaws but they’re not as bad as perceived. He’s paid appropriately as a low end #1D, high end #2D.

He can be paid fair and it still be a bad/not ideal contract for us. You can buy a 2 seat car at fair market value but if you have a family of 5 and it prevents you from buying a 5-seater it's still the wrong buy even if it's fairly priced.

His deal is "fine" until a legit 1D hits the UFA market for ~9 mil and we can't make an offer.

 

[DarkKnight]

He can be paid fair and it still be a bad/not ideal contract for us. You can buy a 2 seat car at fair market value but if you have a family of 5 and it prevents you from buying a 5-seater it's still the wrong buy even if it's fairly priced.

His deal is "fine" until a legit 1D hits the UFA market for ~9 mil and we can't make an offer.

Yes, but could the toddler make a strong zone exit pass?

 

[Gary Nylund]

I approve of this thread. Some of the takes around here are just so bad.

 

[Blanche Blanche]

It’s fair criticism. We have all gone 34, 16, 88, 91 at different times of the season. Every season since Babcock and even with Keefe.

34 disappearing at times. Playoffs too
16 having slumps. Mickey Mouse fancy plays
88 use to be a perimeter player. No puck battles
91 too slow. Not doing enough though he’s most consistent.

Almost the entire team is new now.
We have a new look D, and what seems to be a buy in of the whole Team Défense now.

It’s fair to criticize the one Dman that’s been around for soft No D leafs, all the way to what we are now.

Prior to last season vs Tampa we could never play D properly and hold leads and clear our zone.

Some takes are hotter than others, but we wouldn’t be Leaf fans without it. I’m hoping Reilly returns to this new defensive minded leafs team with Brodie and an upgrade at the deadline and we can actually push in the playoffs.
Go leafs go!!!