Player Discussion Morgan Rielly

[Ports]

Defense has never been Rielly's biggest strength, but he wins his minutes 5v5. Rielly has had a positive 5v5 goal differential every year for the past 7 years. He is +79 at 5v5 over that time. This while averaging over 23 minutes a game on our top pairing, and playing all situations. I think that's what he means by #2.

Even this year, he is currently only -3 at 5v5, and even that's because we've had an abnormally low on ice shooting percentage while he's been out there so far, not defense. He has a positive xGF% (51.43%) while averaging the most ice time on the team (21:21) and playing a lot of his minutes with a #7. We're putting up worse defensive results with Benoit, Timmins, and OEL on the ice.

As for that "boat anchor", not only is it not a boat anchor, it was a below market contract.

A contract that no other team will take on without the Leafs eating some of it.

I was sitting right behind net for 1st goal which was a snapper from top of circle .. the tender lost his balance and positioning before da shot as he moved to his right and he ended up going down too low on his feet and got beat over da shoulder .. a top end defender might have been closer to shooter and got his stick on puck for deflection but Rielly at least forced shooter wide .. bottom line team needs a save on that shot .. if tender moves quicker/agile and stands up straight it hits him in shoulder .. this should never be a goal in pro hockey

You’re right. The goalie was bad on that shot but Rielly showed no hustle to get back to get his stick in the way of the shot. What about the third goal. What’s the excuse for Rielly’s ineptness on that one ?

 

[Dekes For Days]

A contract that no other team will take on without the Leafs eating some of it.

Not true at all. We're also not looking to move him.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I noticed the other day the vast variance in the plus/minus of the top 10 scorers.
Defense -16 -> +17
Forwards -2 -> +7

View attachment 966424

Very interesting. There has to be more to this than the excuse that he is much lower because he's been on the ice for empty net goals or shorthanded goals, particularly when you compare him to our other dmen. Tanev and McCabe are on against the other team's first units and they have a combined +30. They're not lighting it up offensively yet their goal differential when they're on the ice is exceptional. It boils down to the fact that Rielly has not been a very good defenceman this season. There is no justification other than he's got his head up his arse.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Very interesting. There has to be more to this than the excuse that he is much lower because he's been on the ice for empty net goals or shorthanded goals, particularly when you compare him to our other dmen. Tanev and McCabe are on against the other team's first units and they have a combined +30. They're not lighting it up offensively yet their goal differential when they're on the ice is exceptional. It boils down to the fact that Rielly has not been a very good defenceman this season. There is no justification other than he's got his head up his arse.

Tanev and McCabe both played with Rielly at various points this year and he turned them into minus players while together they form a pairing that can go up against the league's very best and come out ahead.

Rielly is getting over 60% offensive zone starts at 5v5 and failing in soft minutes.

 

[Ports]

Not true at all. We're also not looking to move him.

Who’s we.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Who’s we.

The Leafs. The team we cheer for.

 

[Ports]

The Leafs. The team we cheer for.

I’m not sure the Leafs are taking direction from their fans.

 

[Dekes For Days]

I’m not sure the Leafs are taking direction from their fans.

No, they're not. Thankfully, considering some of the misguided venom spewed towards Rielly in this thread.

 

[Ports]

No, they're not. Thankfully, considering some of the misguided venom spewed towards Rielly in this thread.

Justified criticism is hardly venom. Thankfully Leafs management actually wants to win and doesn't have the low expectations some Leafs fans have grown accustomed to. Unfortunately there are fans who care more about individual players than team success.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Justified criticism is hardly venom. Thankfully Leafs management actually wants to win and doesn't have the low expectations some Leafs fans have grown accustomed to. Unfortunately there are fans who care more about individual players than team success.

Nobody cares about individual players over team success. Very few of the criticisms thrown around in this thread have been justified. Leafs management does want to win. That's why they're going to keep Rielly.