Player Discussion Morgan Rielly

[Dekes For Days]

The coaches job is to win not just coddle his players and worry about a 12 year veterans inability to play within their system. Your second sentence is total speculation meant to support your narrative. It’s not Berube’s job to decide which players bring value to the team or whether they should be traded. He can only play the players on the team’s roster and has little leeway when it comes to Rielly given their lack of depth on the back end. You have no idea what is said behind doors in the coaches office about Rielly’s struggles.

Yes, the coach's job is to win. That's why he gives Rielly the most minutes on the team. You have no idea what is said behind closed doors either. All we can go by is his public comments and his actions. His public comments show concern but don't support the idea that he's playing like trash, unimportant, or a lost cause, and his actions are to give him the most minutes. If your argument is that every other defenseman on our team is even more trash, then I don't know why you're not out there blasting every other defenseman too.

 

[TMLAM34]

Rielly had a really good game last night, hope he can continue that play moving forward.

 

[Ports]

Yes, the coach's job is to win. That's why he gives Rielly the most minutes on the team. You have no idea what is said behind closed doors either. All we can go by is his public comments and his actions. His public comments show concern but don't support the idea that he's playing like trash, unimportant, or a lost cause, and his actions are to give him the most minutes. If your argument is that every other defenseman on our team is even more trash, then I don't know why you're not out there blasting every other defenseman too.

No coach is going to say his player is trash. What a ridiculous argument and last night McCabe played eight minutes more than Rielly did and Tanev played 4 minutes more. You live in a fantasy world.

 

[Dekes For Days]

No coach is going to say his player is trash. What a ridiculous argument and last night McCabe played eight minutes more than Rielly did and Tanev played 4 minutes more.

No, but there's much harsher things that coaches say when they're playing like trash, and they don't give trash players the most minutes on the team. It's understandable that our shutdown defensemen had some wonky minutes last night with the OEL injury and the big early lead, but Rielly still played over 22 minutes and has averaged the most minutes this year. That doesn't align with your statements.

 

[Stephen]

I hope they have. I was never a worshipper of the guy and was one of his hardest critiques all the way back if anyone cares to look, but, never did I imagine this kind of decline at this age.

To me it looks like he’ll need to drop some playing weight, get that jump in his step back and get the head screwed on right. He’s always going to be a riverboat gambler playing on instinct and so so defensively but right now it’s no strengths and only weaknesses in his game.

 

[Mr_Fun]

I thought Reilly played well last night. He made some big time plays against some bigtime offense. Maybe Berube found that happy medium? If he can sustain that level of play, he should be alright.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

The rumours of Rielly's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

His downturn in play this year is being blown way out of proportion. He's clearly not having a great season. But he's definitely not a bottom pairing defenseman either.

He's still making a valuable contribution to this team.

Currently the longest serving Leafs player and a fan favourite. Rielly was who much of the greatest fan base in the world wanted as Captain instead of Tavares. His leadership both on and off the ice is clear to anyone who follows this team.

He unselfishly shared his A with Marner who probably doesn't even deserve one.

Rielly is also the only one of the core willing to stand up for his teammates. He was the only one willing to take a discount. And he was the only one willing to take a M-NTC the last two years instead of a full NMC.

He's earned the right to have a down year without giving up on him for the dead just yet.