Rielly ranked #1 of 2012 draft class in TSN (Craig Button) Top 30 NHL Prospects

[Grant]

Well the first game, Hamilton was a terrible pairing period. Hamilton is the top dog and he wants the puck and is also counted on for offense. However I expected WAY MORE once paired with a defensive d who is expected to stay back.

I am not saying minutes don't play a part but he still got the minutes to play his game. So if he doesn't get 30 minutes then his useless? Also with the penalties he doesn't get into the flow but you can't just put it on minutes.

He just doesn't seem aggressive. We'll find out on boxing day either way. I guess you can't put too much stock in these games, although can't dismiss all together either.

I will get worried if team Canada starts playing well but Rielly is still playing like he has the last couple of games. Seems like something is up with everyone right now, team Canada as a whole just hasn't been good.

 

[Sonny21]

I will get worried if team Canada starts playing well but Rielly is still playing like he has the last couple of games. Seems like something is up with everyone right now, team Canada as a whole just hasn't been good.

Yeah that's fair. Can't wait till the real games start

 

[empresa]

I didn't say he was super soft or anything, but he's not physical compared to your average hockey player, he pretty much never hits. He has decent size/strength, and likes to use his body to protect the puck, but he doesn't initiate much contact defensively, and I've literally never seen him throw anything close to a big hit. He's like the Sedins, good at protecting the puck with his body, but otherwise doesn't have much physicality to his game. Also like the Sedins, he's generally one of the least physical players on the ice, other than puck protection (which is more about TAKING contact than dishing it out).

Again, I really, REALLY like Rielly as a prospect, but people do need to realize that he has strengths and weaknesses. When fans say that he's decently physical, or good defensively, those are straight up lies. He's completely dominant with the puck on his stick, elite skating, stick handling and vision, and really aggressive offensively (looks to make things happen almost every shift), but he does have weaknesses, namely well below average physicality, below average defensive play, and a mediocre shot (not a bad shot, but not elite like his other offensive tools).

I completely agree with your opinions on Rielly. With so many weaknesses, it is hard to rank him #1 of 2012 draft class.

 

[Grant]

Yeah that's fair. Can't wait till the real games start

Sucks that they are so early in the day

 

[Sonny21]

Sucks that they are so early in the day

Yeah, but good thing I am a night owl. Not so great for many others though, although pvr to the rescue. Although not the same feeling when you watch it live.

 

[charliolemieux]

Yeah, but good thing I am a night owl. Not so great for many others though, although pvr to the rescue. Although not the same feeling when you watch it live.

Definitly not the same as watching live.

 

[Kyle93]

I'm up all night most of the time anyways. I go to bed at like 7 AM some nights so it will be easy to stay up, watch the game and then go to bed lol

 

[Beleafer4]

Yeah the goals are definitely sparse. I mean it's not even just one or two players, almost everyone. I think Rielly does have the green light, i read a quote of scott where he told Rielly in the one on one's when he made the team that he wanted him to play his game and not be a defensive d.

The first game, it was terrible pairing with Hamilton. I really expected the normal Rielly to show up in the last game. I can't put my finger on what it is, sure all the penalties don't help at all but he still got good minutes. Who knows...

He wants Rielly to "play his game" but then pairs him up with Hamilton one game and murphy the next...

Spott saying one thing and doing another.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Craig Button is a joke and can't be remotely taken seriously. If these rankings were done by people who are still deemed worthy of holding a job in the NHL I don't believe he would be any higher than #3 (relative to the 2012 entry draft) in the majority of rankings. Yakupov and Galchenyuk have done nothing to lose their ranking and Murray's injury might drop him behind Rielly but that might be a hotly contested debate.

The Leafs, imo at the time made the correct pick and Rielly's play seems to have verified that assumption. I think Leaf fans should be happy with this result and laugh off this list by Button as most other fanbases are doing.

 

[onebighockeyfan]

Craig Button is a joke and can't be remotely taken seriously. If these rankings were done by people who are still deemed worthy of holding a job in the NHL I don't believe he would be any higher than #3 (relative to the 2012 entry draft) in the majority of rankings. Yakupov and Galchenyuk have done nothing to lose their ranking and Murray's injury might drop him behind Rielly but that might be a hotly contested debate.

The Leafs, imo at the time made the correct pick and Rielly's play seems to have verified that assumption. I think Leaf fans should be happy with this result and laugh off this list by Button as most other fanbases are doing.

He's number one, that's why he was picked at #5.

 

[Frankie]

sounds like we have all the excuses lined up and ready to go in case rielly fails to dominate this tournament.

his blueline partner isn't suitable. the team's entire system isn't suited to rielly's strengths. the entire team is playing poorly around him. too many penalties are limiting rielly's ice time. the coach simply isn't using him properly.

what else can we come up with? even if he doesn't dominate this tournament, we need to still believe that we have a true superstar coming along.

hopefully we won't have to use any of these excuses. hopefully rielly does great and leads canada to gold.

 

[ErnieLeafs]

Rielly won't be counted on to "lead Canada to gold". It's his first year at the tournament.

Do you think playing Rielly with a puck rushing, offensive D-man maximizes his usage, and plays to his strengths? How often did you see him get chances short handed to play his game.

They aren't excuses. They happened.

 

[7even]

sounds like we have all the excuses lined up and ready to go in case rielly fails to dominate this tournament.

his blueline partner isn't suitable. the team's entire system isn't suited to rielly's strengths. the entire team is playing poorly around him. too many penalties are limiting rielly's ice time. the coach simply isn't using him properly.

what else can we come up with? even if he doesn't dominate this tournament, we need to still believe that we have a true superstar coming along.

hopefully we won't have to use any of these excuses. hopefully rielly does great and leads canada to gold.

You say this like Rielly's NHL career depends on how he does at this tournament. People put ridiculously too much stock in the WJCs. Rielly could finish pointless and a -10 and he'll still be one of the better defensive prospects in hockey. All ya'll need to chillax.

 

[dubey]

Craig Button is a joke and can't be remotely taken seriously. If these rankings were done by people who are still deemed worthy of holding a job in the NHL I don't believe he would be any higher than #3 (relative to the 2012 entry draft) in the majority of rankings. Yakupov and Galchenyuk have done nothing to lose their ranking and Murray's injury might drop him behind Rielly but that might be a hotly contested debate.

The Leafs, imo at the time made the correct pick and Rielly's play seems to have verified that assumption. I think Leaf fans should be happy with this result and laugh off this list by Button as most other fanbases are doing.

Great list IMO

Rielly should have gone #1 overall

 

[Billy6]

Reilly needs to stay in junior if the lockout ends. Why rush him? They did that with Schenn and look at how that turned out. Also he barely played last year and would be much better off staying in junior playing huge minutes and then have a full summer to train and get stronger to compete for a spot next fall. He's not ready to be a top 4 NHL defenseman. Let him grow in junior. It's not a race.

 

[Jerkini]

Isn't Rielly one of the youngest players on the WJ team?

 

[Kelly]

Isn't Rielly one of the youngest players on the WJ team?

One of them, yes. Jake Paterson, Charles Hudon, Jonathan Drouin, and Nathan Mackinnon are all younger than him.

 

[Stephen]

Reilly needs to stay in junior if the lockout ends. Why rush him? They did that with Schenn and look at how that turned out. Also he barely played last year and would be much better off staying in junior playing huge minutes and then have a full summer to train and get stronger to compete for a spot next fall. He's not ready to be a top 4 NHL defenseman. Let him grow in junior. It's not a race.

It depends on Rielly's training camp.

Luke Schenn and Morgan Rielly have very little in common other than being drafted fifth overall by the same franchise.

 

[Frankie]

You say this like Rielly's NHL career depends on how he does at this tournament. People put ridiculously too much stock in the WJCs. Rielly could finish pointless and a -10 and he'll still be one of the better defensive prospects in hockey. All ya'll need to chillax.

that's sort of my point. i really don't care how rielly does at this tournament. i just want canada to win gold. if he does well (the way he's hyped around here, he should dominate), it obviously helps canada's chances. beyond that, i don't care how he does. as you say, it doesn't make any difference to his future with the leafs.

seems like a lot of people believe this wjc is all-important to his future though. not only do many leafs fans want to believe he's a future superstar hall-of-famer, but they want everyone else to believe it too. the excuses for his underwhelming performance so far are ridiculous. almost as if simply saying, "he hasn't been very good so far", will damage his future.

 

[7even]

that's sort of my point. i really don't care how rielly does at this tournament. i just want canada to win gold. if he does well (the way he's hyped around here, he should dominate), it obviously helps canada's chances. beyond that, i don't care how he does. as you say, it doesn't make any difference to his future with the leafs.

seems like a lot of people believe this wjc is all-important to his future though. not only do many leafs fans want to believe he's a future superstar hall-of-famer, but they want everyone else to believe it too. the excuses for his underwhelming performance so far are ridiculous. almost as if simply saying, "he hasn't been very good so far", will damage his future.

Ah I must've misread you, my bad. Totally agree. He hasn't been that great so far. I'm fine with that. Doesn't mean a whole lot for his development or worth as a prospect.

 

[achtungbaby]

I'm up all night most of the time anyways. I go to bed at like 7 AM some nights so it will be easy to stay up, watch the game and then go to bed lol

I suffer from insomnia which means I sleep about 4 hours a night on average. It's nice when the occasional perk for my troubles arises.

 

[Bomber0104]

that's sort of my point. i really don't care how rielly does at this tournament. i just want canada to win gold. if he does well (the way he's hyped around here, he should dominate), it obviously helps canada's chances. beyond that, i don't care how he does. as you say, it doesn't make any difference to his future with the leafs.

seems like a lot of people believe this wjc is all-important to his future though. not only do many leafs fans want to believe he's a future superstar hall-of-famer, but they want everyone else to believe it too. the excuses for his underwhelming performance so far are ridiculous. almost as if simply saying, "he hasn't been very good so far", will damage his future.

Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Brian Leetch, and Scott Niedermayer (am I missing any other hall-of-famer comparisons?) would have performed much better in my opinion. I've seen no reports of these NHL hall-of-famers being inconsistent against kids their own age.

Harrington has been the best defenceman so far. Hopefully that will change.

 

[leafspring*]

Rielly plays a speed/passing game. There is your scouting report. Thats his game right. Wrong, he plays as hard coming back as he does going on the offense,and does play physical.

The crazy comments here just intensify the arguements.

Rielly was a #5 pick,and if you need to call him a #1 prospect of the draft fine by all means do so. I like that we have him if we got him 30th. Button is entitled to his opinion,and with some merit it is. Button is not the only hockey mind in the country liking Rielly's game.

Rielly's numbers in the WHL are with (i believe) the third/fourth lowest scoring team in the WHL,and have a small chance of play-offs. His numbers aren't that great either to this point.

This WJHC's to me is where you shine for your country,so Rielly will be judged on it.

Fair or not ,thats the way it is. Glad to have him is all i can add.

 

[Bomber0104]

Rielly plays a speed/passing game. There is your scouting report. Thats his game right. Wrong, he plays as hard coming back as he does going on the offense,and does play physical.

The crazy comments here just intensify the arguements.

Rielly was a #5 pick,and if you need to call him a #1 prospect of the draft fine by all means do so. I like that we have him if we got him 30th. Button is entitled to his opinion,and with some merit it is. Button is not the only hockey mind in the country liking Rielly's game.

Rielly's numbers in the WHL are with (i believe) the third/fourth lowest scoring team in the WHL,and have a small chance of play-offs. His numbers aren't that great either to this point.

This WJHC's to me is where you shine for your country,so Rielly will be judged on it.

Fair or not ,thats the way it is. Glad to have him is all i can add.

I understand the excuses for his production in junior since he needs better players to dish to. Makes sense.

But here we can't use that as an excuse because these are the best junior players playing with him.

My go-to excuse would be that he gets nervous on big stages (draft). He's a recovering stutterer so it seems his nerves get the better of him at times. As the tournament goes on, expect Rielly to get better and better as he becomes more comfortable.

 

[Morbo]

What I hate about this is that Leaf fans are getting heat for the media's hype of Rielly. Sure a few are being idiots, but it's the talking heads that are making the comparisons to hall of fame players.