Player Discussion Morgan Rielly

[Doublerum1975]

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.

Or it’s the new coach telling him to play a certain way that doesn’t show his true strengths he hardly ever goes on rushes anymore

 

[Dekes For Days]

Or it’s the new coach telling him to play a certain way that doesn’t show his true strengths he hardly ever goes on rushes anymore

He's clearly been hurt by the Berube system, but he's also not been nearly as bad as some here are pretending.

 

[Stephen]

Or it’s the new coach telling him to play a certain way that doesn’t show his true strengths he hardly ever goes on rushes anymore

He’s been mediocre for vast stretches under Keefe too. The only time he’s been elite was that one Tampa series which established him as some kind of playoff warrior.

 

[Stephen]

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.

I think he’s a guy who didn’t get better defensive development when he was coming up as a young player and coasted by with “weak partners” and playing a low discipline rush style. He seems like a guy who actually needs a back to basics about how to defend, read a play, two on one, etc.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Don't forget gang!! Enjoy the "unforced" Icings tonite, everyone! They're a joy to behold once you start counting.
Our whole D corps might commit 2 or 3 a game. Well - so does our boy Morgan all by himself!! Haha. Especially to start off a period. If we win a faceoff and he's on the ice, watch for the first play off the Intermission to be an unforced, "I never played hockey before",/ "Dude, the red line is RIGHT there!", Morgan Rielly special..!

 

[mapleleaf979]

Reilly's team worst -16 is exposing exactly who he is a defender. Tanev being a team best +16, MCcabe +13, OEL +9 is exactly who they are. Reilly is -16, the next guy is -4. Ud think a couple -12 or -10 would be there as it would be a team thing. It makes that -16 even worse.

 

[WTFMAN99]

He's gotta go.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Only played 16 minutes tonight. Starting to get Darnell Nurse vibes from Mo. He's having a awful year.

 

[Mr_Fun]

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.

I've noticed him looking around at times like "what just happened?" I used to see dejection after a bad play; now it looks more like confusion. I honestly think he comes around at some point, but this is hard to watch. Also, it's being noticed by even some of his biggest fans so it's not just the usual Reilly hater faction weighing in.

 

[sunstersun]

He can't do anything right now. It's like watching TJ Brodie his last year with us.

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Can we trade him + for JT Miller? Please?

 

[Puckstuff]

Reilly's team worst -16 is exposing exactly who he is a defender. Tanev being a team best +16, MCcabe +13, OEL +9 is exactly who they are. Reilly is -16, the next guy is -4. Ud think a couple -12 or -10 would be there as it would be a team thing. It makes that -16 even worse.

Rielly leading the team in negative +/- is nothing new

2022-23

2024-25

 

[thewave]

Mo breaking my spirit man. This guy was a heart and soul guy and got married and became neutered or something.

What a sad decline, you can't get a contract, get married and become a coaster. You kids are gonna see this one day.

Get your head out the clouds Mo

 

[BraveCanadian]

Only played 16 minutes tonight. Starting to get Darnell Nurse vibes from Mo. He's having an awful year.

Noticed that too.

Berube is trying to limit the damage but Rielly just seems to have zero hockey IQ.

If you focus on him when the Leafs are on D you can tell immediately that he has no sense of where to be to let the game come to him. It’s like watching a chicken with its head cut off the way he scrambles around.

He’s mostly a non factor offensively too so I don’t know what the coach and GM can do other than buy him out and try to get someone who can at least defend.. for cheaper money.

 

[Deez Nuts]

Been saying it for over a decade, Mo is a net negative and one of the worst D defensively in the NHL. He’s always been trash yet everyone blamed his partner.
At this point he is not even a top 4D. Utterly useless on special teams and provides next to nothing.
Berube needs scratch this bum. He bleeds goals against when he is on the ice and the team has an extremely high winning percentage when he does not play.

 

[DitchMarner]

Rielly is a guy you want to like because he's a career Leaf and has shown flashes of skill (mostly in his younger years) and leadership/grit at times. But sadly, he simply isn't that good at this point. Really, he hasn't been too good since his big year where he was fifth in Norris voting. Back then, he had more speed and better skating and was a good offensive defenseman. Now he's kind of just there. Skill wise, he doesn't do anything particularly well nowadays.

I hope I'm wrong, but it looks like his contract will age very poorly.

 

[ToneDog]

He can't do anything right now. It's like watching TJ Brodie his last year with us.

Bunkis proposed Miller for Rielly and Minten and Mirtle replied, why would Vancouver do that even if Rielly agreed to waive.

 

[TopCheeseShotta]

Bunkis proposed Miller for Rielly and Minten and Mirtle replied, why would Vancouver do that even if Rielly agreed to waive.

Vancouver is indeed, his hometown - so if he's going to waive for anywhere in this fantasy world where we can move off Mo, it would likely only be there.

Couple that with the circus going on with that team, and if any time - the time is now. Still think Mo would never waive. And still think Miller for Rielly is more than fair.

 

[Leafsfan74]

He’s been mediocre for vast stretches under Keefe too. The only time he’s been elite was that one Tampa series which established him as some kind of playoff warrior.

From the time he entered the league he had high potential. The most difficult part of playing defense is reading the play, positioning and playing smart with the puck. Sometimes this means just shank it into the corner or off the boards, Reilly struggles at times with the fundamental stuff, some of which is difficult to teach if a player is unwilling to buck his instincts.

Maybe it's a conditioning or a mental block, I don't know. He gets to watch McCabe and Tanev play up close. If he can take 25% more of what they do, it would help his game.

Berube is standing by him. Coaches need to default to that position in general though I do believe public calling out has its place where warranted. I'm not sure Reilly fits that bill...yet... He sees what we all see though and if a team starts struggling, players will feel more pressure to be accountable. Hopefully they have candid discussions in private as with all players of course.

He did say that Reilly doesn't complain about who he plays with and "just wants to win". That's noble and important for a team so in this regard I won't knock him. He also did take a suspension last year when he went after the Sens player for disrespecting the team. In team sports, especially physical ones; this matters.

He must do better though. Clear his mind and be zen with the game.