Player Discussion Morgan Rielly

[ClarkSittler]

Always loved Rielly since the day we drafted him and thought he should've been given the C. His puck retrieval and first pass out of his zone is near the best in the league.

Saying that, the last few years he has regressed, especially defensively and this year I don't know what's happened, but it's been his worse so far. Really hoping he turns it around and shows up in the playoffs like he always does. We need him.

 

[LeafsNet]

Put some respek on my name - Morgan Birdman Rielly

Are ya hearing or are ya listening?

Said it before and I’ll say it again. Put some respek on MO’s name. He’s saving his best for the run.

Ya’ll hearin or y’all listening?

 

[WTFMAN99]

Always loved Rielly since the day we drafted him and thought he should've been given the C. His puck retrieval and first pass out of his zone is near the best in the league.

Saying that, the last few years he has regressed, especially defensively and this year I don't know what's happened, but it's been his worse so far. Really hoping he turns it around and shows up in the playoffs like he always does. We need him.

I thought about this and decided to finally look it up because I remember that Tampa series in particular, he was doing great but the Boston series, the PP was limp.

It seems like he basically alternates years where he's good except for 19-20 and 20-21 where he was pretty mediocre.

It's wild when you think about what he is at 7.5M...he's not really an elite or dynamic PP quarterback, you could argue we'd get more value out of a guy like Ghost and use the spare $ elsewhere.

He's also bad defensively and has lost a lot of mobility...he's not a fast guy either. Basically he has a great breakout pass and that's about it.

This is probably a player we needed to move after the playoff disappointment last year but definitely this off-season, we need to explore moving him, it likely won't be a big return. Tree did not sign him so the loyalty isn't there like it would be with a player like Nylander whom he chose to extend.

 

[ToneDog]

I thought about this and decided to finally look it up because I remember that Tampa series in particular, he was doing great but the Boston series, the PP was limp.

View attachment 959506

It seems like he basically alternates years where he's good except for 19-20 and 20-21 where he was pretty mediocre.

It's wild when you think about what he is at 7.5M...he's not really an elite or dynamic PP quarterback, you could argue we'd get more value out of a guy like Ghost and use the spare $ elsewhere.

He's also bad defensively and has lost a lot of mobility...he's not a fast guy either. Basically he has a great breakout pass and that's about it.

This is probably a player we needed to move after the playoff disappointment last year but definitely this off-season, we need to explore moving him, it likely won't be a big return. Tree did not sign him so the loyalty isn't there like it would be with a player like Nylander whom he chose to extend.

Same number of goals and 10 assists less than your points leader and Rielly has scored timely goals. Best we can hope for is he gets his head out of his ass and shows up for the playoffs.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Same number of goals and 10 assists less than your points leader and Rielly has scored timely goals. Best we can hope for is he gets his head out of his ass and shows up for the playoffs.

Are we talking about playoffs? If so, collectively they all need to be better.

 

[Ports]

I thought about this and decided to finally look it up because I remember that Tampa series in particular, he was doing great but the Boston series, the PP was limp.

View attachment 959506

It seems like he basically alternates years where he's good except for 19-20 and 20-21 where he was pretty mediocre.

It's wild when you think about what he is at 7.5M...he's not really an elite or dynamic PP quarterback, you could argue we'd get more value out of a guy like Ghost and use the spare $ elsewhere.

He's also bad defensively and has lost a lot of mobility...he's not a fast guy either. Basically he has a great breakout pass and that's about it.

This is probably a player we needed to move after the playoff disappointment last year but definitely this off-season, we need to explore moving him, it likely won't be a big return. Tree did not sign him so the loyalty isn't there like it would be with a player like Nylander whom he chose to extend.

Totally agree. He’s not an NHL defenseman. He’s a complete liability defensively and now that his offense is no longer a factor he’s a huge problem especially at his cap hit. With his full NMC, they may need to buy him out which actually saves them $20M on the cap over the next five years based upon the way his contract is structured.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

@diceman934, got any insight as to Rielly's game this year? Really hoping it's the new-born throwing him off.

 

[thewave]

Always loved Rielly since the day we drafted him and thought he should've been given the C. His puck retrieval and first pass out of his zone is near the best in the league.

Saying that, the last few years he has regressed, especially defensively and this year I don't know what's happened, but it's been his worse so far. Really hoping he turns it around and shows up in the playoffs like he always does. We need him.

If one were to go back they would see I was never a fan of his game unless he was paired with certain players. When he doesnt have to worry about defending so much, he is productive. But now? This year he is so bad he is terrible to the point you consider a buyout for cap.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Here's something you will never unsee... I noticed it 3-4 years ago - and he's good for a few every game.

The "unforced" icing. You can't just count total icings so there's no real stat tracking fornit, but by my unofficial count - he is more than double any single defenceman in the history of the NHL....!

Enjoy seeing this every game for the rest of his tenure here! I couldn't live with the pain alone, anymore. So ya... sorry.

 

[Leafs4Life77]

I thought about this and decided to finally look it up because I remember that Tampa series in particular, he was doing great but the Boston series, the PP was limp.

View attachment 959506

It seems like he basically alternates years where he's good except for 19-20 and 20-21 where he was pretty mediocre.

It's wild when you think about what he is at 7.5M...he's not really an elite or dynamic PP quarterback, you could argue we'd get more value out of a guy like Ghost and use the spare $ elsewhere.

He's also bad defensively and has lost a lot of mobility...he's not a fast guy either. Basically he has a great breakout pass and that's about it.

This is probably a player we needed to move after the playoff disappointment last year but definitely this off-season, we need to explore moving him, it likely won't be a big return. Tree did not sign him so the loyalty isn't there like it would be with a player like Nylander whom he chose to extend.

Come on.

40 points in 57 playoff games is a 57.5 point pace per 82. Then he's somehow managed to be a +14 on teams that are 1-9 in those playoff series.

He's been unbelievable...and has been so carrying around the Hunwick's, Hainsey's, Brodie's of the world.

Put some respect on what he's done in the spring.

 

[thewave]

Come on.

40 points in 57 playoff games is a 57.5 point pace per 82. Then he's somehow managed to be a +14 on teams that are 1-9 in those playoff series.

He's been unbelievable...and has been so carrying around the Hunwick's, Hainsey's, Brodie's of the world.

Put some respect on what he's done in the spring.

He needs the right partner or he sucks. This has happened on different occasions.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Come on.

40 points in 57 playoff games is a 57.5 point pace per 82. Then he's somehow managed to be a +14 on teams that are 1-9 in those playoff series.

He's been unbelievable...and has been so carrying around the Hunwick's, Hainsey's, Brodie's of the world.

Put some respect on what he's done in the spring.

Yea, last year he had the big defensive lapse for the Pastrnak series winner and our PP was limp with him as the QB but sure.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Another -1 in a game we win. He is now -16 for the season. Despite +/- not being a tell-all stat, in this case it reflects the terrible defensive play of this guy. If he had an ounce of offensive ability, we might forgive some of his defensive deficiencies, but he's proving to be a black hole there as well. Not much we can do, but Berube hopefully understands that he should not be on the PP. At this point, he's an average #4-5 dman.

 

[ACC1224]

Another -1 in a game we win. He is now -16 for the season. Despite +/- not being a tell-all stat, in this case it reflects the terrible defensive play of this guy. If he had an ounce of offensive ability, we might forgive some of his defensive deficiencies, but he's proving to be a black hole there as well. Not much we can do, but Berube hopefully understands that he should not be on the PP. At this point, he's an average #4-5 dman.

Yikes!

 

[WTFMAN99]

Yikes!

View attachment 962636

Actually considering he's gotten PP time etc and the softest minutes ever (over 60% offensive zone starts at 5v5) and he's only marginally producing more than Tanev and McCabe.

 

[PromisedLand]

just saw this on twitter. not sure whether to laugh or cry

 

[mapleleaf979]

Totally agree. He’s not an NHL defenseman. He’s a complete liability defensively and now that his offense is no longer a factor he’s a huge problem especially at his cap hit. With his full NMC, they may need to buy him out which actually saves them $20M on the cap over the next five years based upon the way his contract is structured.

View attachment 962486

I would 100% buy him out after the year. Those cap hits dont look bad. OEL is better than Reilly @3.5. He can be bought out and replaced for less than 7.5. Reilly will be a major reason why the Leafs lose in the playoffs, this year.

 

[arso40]

I would 100% buy him out after the year. Those cap hits dont look bad. OEL is better than Reilly @3.5. He can be bought out and replaced for less than 7.5. Reilly will be a major reason why the Leafs lose in the playoffs, this year.

Nobody wanted to listen lily 3 mill was the problem not riellys 7.5

 

[thewave]

just saw this on twitter. not sure whether to laugh or cry

He is the worst player on the team and Berube keeps running him on the PP. He should already have a letter removed from him as a message.

There comes a point and it's now where Berube has to start dealing in facts and correct crap before the POs. If he doesn't it's another wasted year and they should clear out the entire management

 

[thewave]

He got deked out effortlessly by Justin Brazeau. lol.


Go where, collect his paycheque for the next 6 years?

Remove the letter is step one.

There should be non performance clauses in these NMC contracts. I would say right now his contract should be terminated. He is not even trying flipping the puck at shins or into the crest. It's embarrassing.

If his name was Jake Gardiner he would be being booed already.

 

[Ports]

I would 100% buy him out after the year. Those cap hits dont look bad. OEL is better than Reilly @3.5. He can be bought out and replaced for less than 7.5. Reilly will be a major reason why the Leafs lose in the playoffs, this year.

Kypreo alluded to exactly that this week. Where there’s smoke, hopefully there’s fire. Teams like Tampa, Boston and Vegas would do it. It costs the team $25M in cash paid over 10 years (present value = about $20M) to gain an additional $20M in cap space over 5 years. It’s a no brainer financially. Does this Ownership Group / Management Team have the sense and balls to do it ? Shanahan sure doesn’t but hopefully he’s gone at the end of the season and the big boys show how serious they are a about winning a cup in Toronto.

 

[mjd1001]

Reilly is 30, and hes logged a pretty good number of minutes over his career (not the MOST, but more than average). He just might be getting to the point in his career that he is on the downside and it happening rather quickly.

Its different for all players. There are some D-men that were really good in their 20s (Klingberg is one, and yes, he had some REALLY good years in his 20s) that has their play fall or dramatically not too far after they reach 30. Then others can keep playing great hockey into their mid-30s.

Reilly might be one of the guys that once he hit 30, his play just starts to fall.

 

[Ports]

Kypreo alluded to exactly that this week. Where there’s smoke, hopefully there’s fire. Teams like Tampa, Boston and Vegas would do it. It costs the team $25M in cash paid over 10 years (present value = about $20M) to gain an additional $20M in cap space over 5 years. It’s a no brainer financially. Does this Ownership Group / Management Team have the sense and balls to do it ? Shanahan sure doesn’t but hopefully he’s gone at the end of the season and the big boys show how serious they are a about winning a cup in Toronto.

If you think someone is creating his offense, I suggest you look at primary vs secondary assists for his career and compare it to other D. He creates A LOT of offense.

Yeah. For their opponents.

 

[Stephen]

Totally agree. He’s not an NHL defenseman. He’s a complete liability defensively and now that his offense is no longer a factor he’s a huge problem especially at his cap hit. With his full NMC, they may need to buy him out which actually saves them $20M on the cap over the next five years based upon the way his contract is structured.

View attachment 962486

Rielly seems like a player who has enjoyed such a long tenure and has so much job security that he's fallen asleep at the wheel of his own career. Sometimes you just go along with the flow and don't even realize how much you've slipped. Just an unacceptable level of complacency and motivation to him.

 

[thewave]

Rielly seems like a player who has enjoyed such a long tenure and has so much job security that he's fallen asleep at the wheel of his own career. Sometimes you just go along with the flow and don't even realize how much you've slipped. Just an unacceptable level of complacency and motivation to him.

It's like watching the Alex Nylander of D men out there. Maybe he has early onset something or other. Brain fog? No idea. Something.