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

[diceman934]

Becoming and staying a fan during the absolute worst years in the franchise's existence, thank you very much

As bad as the year's of missed playoffs are.....in my opinion the Ballard years were worse. We traded away many of our star players because Ballard had to be the face of the team, him and Clancy seen sitting in the bunker during Leafs home games.

 

[ULF_55]

Becoming and staying a fan during the absolute worst years in the franchise's existence, thank you very much

As bad as the year's of missed playoffs are.....in my opinion the Ballard years were worse. We traded away many of our star players because Ballard had to be the face of the team, him and Clancy seen sitting in the bunker during Leafs home games.

Yes, should be proud or should we blame ourselves for enabling the garbage to continue?

 

[daveleaf]

As bad as the year's of missed playoffs are.....in my opinion the Ballard years were worse. We traded away many of our star players because Ballard had to be the face of the team, him and Clancy seen sitting in the bunker during Leafs home games.

Not much different, you can argue until you are blue in the face but his teams made the playoffs more often than what we have witnessed in the last eight years.

 

[Mess]

So far Rielly has been very promising as a prospect and has been steadily securing his status at the top of Leafs prospect list..

Offensively he is a difference maker, and was among the better players in the recent Russia series in preparation for the WJC. Great vision and hockey IQ and instincts allow him to dictate the attack.

Leaf Nation fans have a valid right to be excited about this kid and when your picking in the top 5 of an entry draft these are the types of rewards a fan base rightly deserves for supporting a struggling NHL team. So having Morgan Rielly considered among the best non NHLer prospects at this point is just in his recognition.

 

[daveleaf]

So far Rielly has been very promising as a prospect and has been steadily securing his status at the top of Leafs prospect list..

Offensively he is a difference maker, and was among the better players in the recent Russia series in preparation for the WJC. Great vision and hockey IQ and instincts allow him to dictate the attack.

Leaf Nation fans have a valid right to be excited about this kid and when your picking in the top 5 of an entry draft these are the types of rewards a fan base rightly deserves for supporting a struggling NHL team. So having Morgan Rielly considered among the best non NHLer prospects at this point is just in his recognition.

He is a very good player. Should be just perfect for when NHL hockey gets going again next September

 

[Mess]

Yes, with all the hype, I expect Rielly to be the next Sundin/Salming, and anything less will be a disappointment.

Well Rielly does have a lot of similarities to former Leaf Tomas Kaberle in his game in style and poise and creativity.

So while (facetiously ), he may not be or next Salming, settling for a Kaberle comparable, who is after all Leafs 2nd highest (878 games 83 goals 437 assists 520 points) scoring Dman (and 11th overall player) Leaf of all time, might be a lofty optimistic hype today that might be also be someday validated .

As with all Leaf prospects, getting to play enough games in a Leafs jersey is more of a challenge, with an organizational "draft schmaft" mentality and impatient GMs unwilling to allow Leaf draft picks to become Leaf leaders.

 

[daveleaf]

Well Rielly does have a lot of similarities to former Leaf Tomas Kaberle in his game in style and poise and creativity.

So while (facetiously ), he may not be or next Salming, settling for a Kaberle comparable, who is after all Leafs 2nd highest (878 games 83 goals 437 assists 520 points) scoring Dman (and 11th overall player) Leaf of all time, might be a lofty optimistic hype today that might be also be someday validated :.

As with all Leaf prospects, getting to play enough games in a Leafs jersey is more of a challenge, with an organizational "draft schmaft" mentality and impatient GMs unwilling to allow Leaf draft picks to become Leaf leaders.

Skating is way better than Kabs!

 

[Razz]

Not much different, you can argue until you are blue in the face but his teams made the playoffs more often than what we have witnessed in the last eight years.

I don't think they would have with the current 30 team format though. It's really hard to compare since back then you could be a sub 500 team and still make the playoffs.

 

[ULF_55]

I don't think they would have with the current 30 team format though. It's really hard to compare since back then you could be a sub 500 team and still make the playoffs.

Take out loser points and it might be a little closer, but yes, some brutal Leafs' teams made the playoffs. But they provided some hope.

 

[NewFang]

Awesome. Just one man's opinion but great to see him up there so high.

On the other hand, it stings to see JS at #1 though. Ya I gotta get over that, but for now I've decided to stay bitter a while longer.

 

[7even]

Yes, should be proud or should we blame ourselves for enabling the garbage to continue?

Enabling? Son I live in South Georgia. I haven't been to a Leafs home game in my life. I have one jersey, and that's a Sundin one my dad got like 20 years ago. MLSE hasn't got a cent from me

 

[ULF_55]

Enabling? Son I live in South Georgia. I haven't been to a Leafs home game in my life. I have one jersey, and that's a Sundin one my dad got like 20 years ago. MLSE hasn't got a cent from me

Son? So you are older than Burke as well are you?

I take it you don't watch the games either?

 

[7even]

Son? So you are older than Burke as well are you?

I take it you don't watch the games either?

It was a joke man calm down lol. I've watched almost every game since maybe '06? Centre Ice when I'm home, questionably attained streams when I'm at college. I lived and died by Raycroft's glove hand lmao.

 

[Stephen]

Well Rielly does have a lot of similarities to former Leaf Tomas Kaberle in his game in style and poise and creativity.

So while (facetiously ), he may not be or next Salming, settling for a Kaberle comparable, who is after all Leafs 2nd highest (878 games 83 goals 437 assists 520 points) scoring Dman (and 11th overall player) Leaf of all time, might be a lofty optimistic hype today that might be also be someday validated .

As with all Leaf prospects, getting to play enough games in a Leafs jersey is more of a challenge, with an organizational "draft schmaft" mentality and impatient GMs unwilling to allow Leaf draft picks to become Leaf leaders.

Actually, I think Rielly and Kaberle are not similar at all. Kaberle was a classic smooth skating European defenseman who always looked in control and made methodical passes and surgical rushes up the ice. From the looks of things, Rielly looks like Pavel Bure on defense, always looking to explode through the opposition.

 

[Beleafer4]

Actually, I think Rielly and Kaberle are not similar at all. Kaberle was a classic smooth skating European defenseman who always looked in control and made methodical passes and surgical rushes up the ice. From the looks of things, Rielly looks like Pavel Bure on defense, always looking to explode through the opposition.

I think they mean they think rielly will be a kaberle-type star.

 

[daveleaf]

I don't think they would have with the current 30 team format though. It's really hard to compare since back then you could be a sub 500 team and still make the playoffs.

No shoot outs and ties were a big deal. I didn't mind that game at all. Not a fan of the shoot out.

 

[G51 K81*]

Actually, I think Rielly and Kaberle are not similar at all. Kaberle was a classic smooth skating European defenseman who always looked in control and made methodical passes and surgical rushes up the ice. From the looks of things, Rielly looks like Pavel Bure on defense, always looking to explode through the opposition.

The comparison, of Rielly, on TSN with Letang was perfect imo.

 

[pooleboy]

I think they mean they think rielly will be a kaberle-type star.

i might be a homer, but what Ive seen from Rielly so far would suggest he will surpass Kaberle status very fast.

 

[The Saurus]

i might be a homer, but what Ive seen from Rielly so far would suggest he will surpass Kaberle status very fast.

Indeed. Morgan Rielly is already very physically mature and he's not even 20 yet. Couple his obvious physical maturity with his natural abilities and you have someone that's more that capable of filling a demanding role on any NHL team.

If all goes according to plan, he'll have more of an impact on the Leafs than Tomas Kaberle ever did. But that's not belittling Kaberle either, who was exceptional here during his prime.

 

[zeke]

Rielly does have all the skills Kaberle had, but he also has all the skills that Kaberle didn't have.

 

[Bomber0104]

i might be a homer, but what Ive seen from Rielly so far would suggest he will surpass Kaberle status very fast.

He definitely has an edge on Kaberle in skating, and willingness to shoot. Both are exceptional passers.

Defensively I think it will be closer than most people would like to acknowledge.

 

[Joey Hoser]

I'm as big on Rielly as anyone, but I think people are jumping the gun a bit here suggesting he'll be better than Kaberle.

Kaberle had quite a career in Toronto. I think Rielly has more skill and potential as well, but the optimism should be more cautious.

 

[Bomber0104]

I'm as big on Rielly as anyone, but I think people are jumping the gun a bit here suggesting he'll be better than Kaberle.

Kaberle had quite a career in Toronto. I think Rielly has more skill and potential as well, but the optimism should be more cautious.

I agree. Seems in Toronto the fans set ridiculous expectations for everyone except management, then get mad when they don't live up to it. I've been seeing Lidstrom, Coffey, Leetch, Bourque attached to Rielly's name on this discussion board several times already. Ridiculous.

I've been saying that if we can get a Letang - Campbell - Kaberle (prime) - Enstrom defender out of Rielly, we will have had a VERY successful 2012 draft.

 

[4evaBlue]

i might be a homer, but what Ive seen from Rielly so far would suggest he will surpass Kaberle status very fast.

If he can adjust to the speed of the game well, yes. He's much more mobile (not just speed, but elusiveness), and he's not afraid to shoot the puck (Kaberle's weakness).

 

[ULF_55]

It was a joke man calm down lol. I've watched almost every game since maybe '06? Centre Ice when I'm home, questionably attained streams when I'm at college. I lived and died by Raycroft's glove hand lmao.

I luv a jest.

Center Ice is great when you aren't in the Leafs broadcast zone. I think there might have been 1 or 1.5 games I haven't been able to see. I think they forgot to turn on the feed on one game and after complaining it showed up for IIRC the 2nd. period.

Streams for the most part suck.