Player Discussion Morgan Rielly

[Aashir Mallik]

Last two playoffs Matty and Mitch have produced at a 77 point pace. Willy produced at a 71 point pace, with 15-20% less ES ice time and not much more than half the PP time. He also led the team in goals, PP goals, and GWG, and was tied with Matty for most ES goals.

Whose "point paces in the playoffs won’t cut it"?

I’ve been pretty vocal on Matthews and Marner not being worth their contracts come playoff time, but nylander wasn’t really a guy you could bring up with them due to contract. He was producing above his level, but now that isn’t the case. If that production you listed is what we get going forward, nylander will be added to the list of overpaid playoff performers

I don’t want to derail the thread too much so to bring it back to Rielly, he’s been playing fantastic hockey, not really surprising that the PP is clicking with him back there, because the core 3 have got their heads out of their asses.

 

[1specter]

I’ve been pretty vocal on Matthews and Marner not being worth their contracts come playoff time, but nylander wasn’t really a guy you could bring up with them due to contract. He was producing above his level, but now that isn’t the case. If that production you listed is what we get going forward, nylander will be added to the list of overpaid playoff performers

I don’t want to derail the thread too much so to bring it back to Rielly, he’s been playing fantastic hockey, not really surprising that the PP is clicking with him back there, because the core 3 have got their heads out of their asses.

Just an FYI, Nylander has scored at a 42 goal pace over his last 4 playoff showings, Leon Draisaitl has scored at a 46 goal pace for comparison (although Drai has done it over a much larger sample of games since the Leafs don't make it past round 1). He will have to step up in other ways, but generally the hardest thing to do in the playoffs which is scoring goals he's been the undisputed best at on this team.

 

[Stephen]

He’s been a lot better lately. Seems to have snapped out of his sluggish play from a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Stephen]

Last two playoffs Matty and Mitch have produced at a 77 point pace. Willy produced at a 71 point pace, with 15-20% less ES ice time and not much more than half the PP time. He also led the team in goals, PP goals, and GWG, and was tied with Matty for most ES goals.

Whose "point paces in the playoffs won’t cut it"?

At a shade under $7 million, Nylander’s playoff point pace was acceptable.

Matthews and Marner in the playoffs has never been acceptable at $11 million and up. Mackinnon with a 1.18 PPG pace in the last 3 years, last year’s highest paid player for reference.

 

[Maple Leaf]

At a shade under $7 million, Nylander’s playoff point pace was acceptable.

Matthews and Marner in the playoffs has never been acceptable at $11 million and up. Mackinnon with a 1.18 PPG pace in the last 3 years, last year’s highest paid player for reference.

Yea but marner and matthews are good in the regular season and that is what really matters

 

[ULF_55]

With a stronger overall group, everyone should be better as no-one has to carry anyone in the top 4.

3rd. pairing is fine, but I think team playing differently helps cover up their hiccups.

 

[sunstersun]

Not a great month.

 

[Roo]

Morgan is a team worst -7 on a team that has arguably the best goaltending in the league and has given up the least goals per game (currently tied with a few other team).

Bad start to the year?
Not a fit for this system?
Coincidence that we went undefeated when he was out last year?
More decline to come?

Definitely a talented player, but he’s not playing as our #1 d. He is our most offensively gifted d, but those numbers are declining. I hope he turns it around, but his play has me wondering about him.

 

[sittler rules!!!]

Morgan is a team worst -7 on a team that has arguably the best goaltending in the league and has given up the least goals per game (currently tied with a few other team).

Bad start to the year?
Not a fit for this system?
Coincidence that we went undefeated when he was out last year?
More decline to come?

Definitely a talented player, but he’s not playing as our #1 d. He is our most offensively gifted d, but those numbers are declining. I hope he turns it around, but his play has me wondering about him.

he has lost it. baby fatigue

 

[horner]

he has lost it. baby fatigue

If we shit the bed in the playoffs again I would move on from Mo
He just isn't that good.

 

[Maple Leaf]

If we shit the bed in the playoffs again I would move on from Mo
He just isn't that good.

It has been a nice run but changing the core is the obvious move to anyone with common sense

 

[thewave]

It has been a nice run but changing the core is the obvious move to anyone with common sense

Can't change they boxed us into a 3 year window to win. We either get it done or that's it.

 

[TheTotalPackage]

It has been a nice run but changing the core is the obvious move to anyone with common sense

If we shit the bed in the playoffs again I would move on from Mo
He just isn't that good.

Yet he's the only one out of the core who has consistently stepped up and elevated his game in the playoffs.

 

[Roo]

Yet he's the only one out of the core who has consistently stepped up and elevated his game in the playoffs.

He's done well in some, not so much in others. He didn't step up this past post-season vs Boston. I hope he finds his game, but he is on the wrong side of 30 and his play is regressing.

 

[Stephen]

He's done well in some, not so much in others. He didn't step up this past post-season vs Boston. I hope he finds his game, but he is on the wrong side of 30 and his play is regressing.

His game always backslides into this sloppy on defense, sluggish on transition and short circuited offensively. Seems like a nice guy but has way too much job security and comfort and seems like he struggles with staying sharp mentally.

 

[sittler rules!!!]

If we shit the bed in the playoffs again I would move on from Mo
He just isn't that good.

He is not a number 1. or even a 2 really. I like OEL's game a whole lot better. Terms of overall would rank Reiily # 4 on depth chart. I do feel much better when OEL, Tanev or McCabe are on the ice.
Starting to notice Benoit struggling a bit. Glad they signed Phillip Myers.

 

[thewave]

He has not been good enough. OEL on the PP looks better, OEL and Tanev are both just better defenders. Award minutes accordingly to performance anytime now Berube (Who is already looking like a neutered Keefe 2.0 in some respects.)

 

[ULF_55]

My guess he is quite comfortably plying his normal movement contributions.

Perhaps he is not making continuous point production, but is still their leading points-man.
Now maybe criticism is warranted, but I doubt he's moved.

Just need more comfort in accepting he is the weaker part of his pairing.


Future is now. Might be a gap for the next wave of defenders, and not sure any of these guys are going to be around for that transition.

 

[sunstersun]

He has not been good enough. OEL on the PP looks better, OEL and Tanev are both just better defenders. Award minutes accordingly to performance anytime now Berube (Who is already looking like a neutered Keefe 2.0 in some respects.)

Yeah, I've not been impressed with Berube so far.

Without JT, Woll and Stollarz, this team would be much worse than last years team, which already felt off.

JT randomly decided 2024, not 2021 or 2020 was the year to be worth the money lol.

Damn, I guess Rielly's decline was pretty predictable.

I wanted to trade him so bad this year fck.

edit: OEL and Tanev are respectively better than Rielly at a cheaper price. WTF?

 

[Deez Nuts]

Morgan is a team worst -7 on a team that has arguably the best goaltending in the league and has given up the least goals per game (currently tied with a few other team).

Bad start to the year?
Not a fit for this system?
Coincidence that we went undefeated when he was out last year?
More decline to come?

Definitely a talented player, but he’s not playing as our #1 d. He is our most offensively gifted d, but those numbers are declining. I hope he turns it around, but his play has me wondering about him.

He’s always been garbage. He is dragging down OEL as well.
He is the only minus defender on the team at -8.
Easily the worst contract on the team and we are stuck with him for a long time.

 

[Ports]

Yet he's the only one out of the core who has consistently stepped up and elevated his game in the playoffs.

Not consistently. He was bad last year and out of eight playoff seasons, he’s been good maybe half of the games. He’s weak defensively, a poor PP quarterback and is regressing offensively. They’re constantly trying to find a RD who can cover up for his soft play in the dzone. Their record without him in the lineup is not some random anomaly. He’s just not very good and this season looks disinterested which is going to be a real problem for them.

Yeah, I've not been impressed with Berube so far.

Without JT, Woll and Stollarz, this team would be much worse than last years team, which already felt off.

JT randomly decided 2024, not 2021 or 2020 was the year to be worth the money lol.

Damn, I guess Rielly's decline was pretty predictable.

I wanted to trade him so bad this year fck.

edit: OEL and Tanev are respectively better than Rielly at a cheaper price. WTF?

McCabe too.

 

[arso40]

Not consistently. He was bad last year and out of eight playoff seasons, he’s been good maybe half of the games. He’s weak defensively, a poor PP quarterback and is regressing offensively. They’re constantly trying to find a RD who can cover up for his soft play in the dzone. Their record without him in the lineup is not some random anomaly. He’s just not very good and this season looks disinterested which is going to be a real problem for them.


McCabe too.

Wish we could have traded rielly

 

[thewave]

Wish we could have traded rielly

What happened to him?

 

[arso40]

What happened to him?

Nothing we haven’t been seeing from him his game was skating he’s getting old he’s a dad he doesn’t have that maniac Jean to be all into his career probably just enjoying his life at the cost of the next level

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

What happened to him?

He's always been kinda docile, and jus' cool - maybe too laid back. Its a good trait in this market - TO... A... POINT.

I think he's been the common denominator for what's been wrong in leafland - cuz he's the only one still here thru multiple regimes, after all these years. Basically, and this is me going cray cray a bit here - but Morgs strikes me as the kinda guy that welcomes new guys into the room with a smile, tells them that its a real big deal to be a Leaf - so just to be chill and play their position, cuz "it's hard out here for a Leaf" tryin' to live up to 1967 - and so, if someone is whylin' out too much and going against the grain, pushing the pace or the rah rah or higher expectations onto others - then Mo is there to just chill them out and get em back in the "just happy to be here" mold.

Either that or he's married with a kid now and whatever WAS there has been sapped the F out of him for good.... lmaooooooo!!!!