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

[Beleafer4]

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).

His shot is a little weak though. If he could improve it though, he would be an absolutely ridiculous offensive threat from the back end.

 

[JSn0w93]

His slapper is below par, but he has a pretty accurate wrist shot.

 

[ULF_55]

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).

It appears he is a better skater, so if he's equal to Kaberle in other aspects, intelligence, ability to calmly move the puck out of traffic and out of the zone, ability to avoid physical punishment, we'll be seeing a star for years to come.

 

[Beleafer4]

His slapper is below par, but he has a pretty accurate wrist shot.

Well for rielly to be fully effective I would be hoping for a gardiner calibre shot.

 

[Grant]

I don't really care how hard your shot is. As long as you are able to get it through traffic on the net I am fine with it. I should also mention you have to shoot it every now and then. No more non-shooting threat Kaberle's please

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Man i wonder will we close the gap for the hab boards with the Dicky trade

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

So I guess the question is: Do we play Reilly on the Marlies next year for the fear of rushing him too soon? Or is he going to deserve a spot in the NHL just as much as Gardiner?

Unless there's something radically new in the CBA, it's NHL or CHL in 2013-2014 for Rielly.

He wouldn't be eligible for the AHL until 2014-2015 (or the in March/April 2014 once his CHL team season ends).

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

The last star drafted was Clark (if you don't count kabrele), that was 1985. That was 27 years ago, and consider you'd have to be at least 10 before fully conscious of what's happening anyone under 37 likely has n recollection or wasnt born to see a leaf star drafted. Considering the Internet wasnt popularized until the mid 90's, the majority of Internet unsers are those born late 80 and forward, so I think its safe to say that the majority of leaf fans on this site have never experienced the leafs drafting a star however caught the later years of ones career.

If you count kaberle then just about everyone here has experienced it.

Kaberle as stated, Felix Potvin in 1990, Vincent Damphousse in 1986.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

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.

Yep, making the playoffs with records of
28-37-15 (80-81),
28-40-12 (82-83),
25-48-7 (85-86),
32-42-6 (86-87)
and 21-49-10 (87-88) is really something to be proud of.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Unless there's something radically new in the CBA, it's NHL or CHL in 2013-2014 for Rielly.

If I remember correctly, the CBA doesn't even matter, because the agreement about junior teams keeping their players until 20 exists between the CHL and the AHL, not the NHL.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

If I remember correctly, the CBA doesn't even matter, because the agreement about junior teams keeping their players until 20 exists between the CHL and the AHL, not the NHL.

You might be right, but I believe that agreement died with the CBA.

 

[diceman934]

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.

I watch most game on Center Ice as well, being in Saskatchewan!

 

[4evaBlue]

I watch most game on Center Ice as well, being in Saskatchewan!

A bit off topic, but why not hockeystreams? They seem to carry a lot of the AHL, as well as the junior league games, which, when I had center ice a few years ago, I didn't notice. Their games are also archived a lot faster, so if you get home half way through the game, you don't have to wait till next day to check out what you've missed.

I don't really care how hard your shot is. As long as you are able to get it through traffic on the net I am fine with it. I should also mention you have to shoot it every now and then. No more non-shooting threat Kaberle's please

Agreed, when goalies could completely ignore Kabs, it made him very predictable. I expect Rielly will keep goalies more honest.

The other thing with Kaberle, is... he did great on the point on the PP, with his one-timer tape-to-tape passes, but he didn't move with or without the puck as much as he could have. Our PP unit has been very stationary for the last decade or so, making it much easier to defend against. I expect the addition of the likes of Kadri, Gardiner, and Rielly will change that.

 

[Grant]

A bit off topic, but why not hockeystreams? They seem to carry a lot of the AHL, as well as the junior league games, which, when I had center ice a few years ago, I didn't notice. Their games are also archived a lot faster, so if you get home half way through the game, you don't have to wait till next day to check out what you've missed.



Agreed, when goalies could completely ignore Kabs, it made him very predictable. I expect Rielly will keep goalies more honest.

The other thing with Kaberle, is... he did great on the point on the PP, with his one-timer tape-to-tape passes, but he didn't move with or without the puck as much as he could have. Our PP unit has been very stationary for the last decade or so, making it much easier to defend against. I expect the addition of the likes of Kadri, Gardiner, and Rielly will change that.

Mind you this was a 4 on 3 so a little more open ice. But this highlight doesn't even show all the movement they did on that powerplay. The future for the leafs may have Rielly and Gardiner as PP QBs with Phaneuf and Finn hammering away goals with their slapshots.

 

[4evaBlue]

Mind you this was a 4 on 3 so a little more open ice. But this highlight doesn't even show all the movement they did on that powerplay. The future for the leafs may have Rielly and Gardiner as PP QBs with Phaneuf and Finn hammering away goals with their slapshots.

If we could get anything like that going on the Leafs on a regular basis (esp by the 2nd line), I'd be ecstatic. Kessel did well with it last season, but there's only so much one guy can do.

 

[diceman934]

A bit off topic, but why not hockeystreams? They seem to carry a lot of the AHL, as well as the junior league games, which, when I had center ice a few years ago, I didn't notice. Their games are also archived a lot faster, so if you get home half way through the game, you don't have to wait till next day to check out what you've missed.



Agreed, when goalies could completely ignore Kabs, it made him very predictable. I expect Rielly will keep goalies more honest.

The other thing with Kaberle, is... he did great on the point on the PP, with his one-timer tape-to-tape passes, but he didn't move with or without the puck as much as he could have. Our PP unit has been very stationary for the last decade or so, making it much easier to defend against. I expect the addition of the likes of Kadri, Gardiner, and Rielly will change that.

I buy Center Ice as it is available on my TV service provider and I tape the games and watch them when I have a chance. I go to many WHL games so I get my fill of Jr hockey. i like the HD channels on center ice as well.

 

[ULF_55]

I buy Center Ice as it is available on my TV service provider and I tape the games and watch them when I have a chance. I go to many WHL games so I get my fill of Jr hockey. i like the HD channels on center ice as well.

It is such a pleasure to watch some of the US broadcast crews.

There are some homers, but I don't think any are as bad as the Canucks for their Leafs' hatred. I've watched the CBC (Canucks Broadcast Crew) take shots at the Leafs when broadcasting games not involving Leafs.

Some of the CI crews are downright complimentary to the Leafs, even with the garbage they've put on the ice recently.

Anyway, to get back on topic, I wonder how much of Button's evaluations are from talking to friends who actually scout these European players? Realistically speaking we know Button doesn't comb the bushes of the Euro leagues in a timezone 8 hours different while he's watching the Kelowna Rockets.

 

[RoyalGremlin]

1. Justin Schultz NO
2. Evgeny Kuznetsov NO
3. Vladimir Tarasenko NO
4. Morgan Rielly
5. Nail Yakupov LOL NO
6. Alex Galchenyuk NO
7. Mark Scheifele NO
8. Sven Baertschi NO
9. Jonathan Huberdeau NO
10. Ryan Strome NO
11. Brett Ritchie NO
12. Dougie Hamilton NO
13. Mikael Granlund NO

Assuming you were talking about who you'd trade Rielly out of this list, here are my answers.

Rielly is OURS now. The moment we picked him, his value skyrocketed. The Leafs clearly saw something in him and I believe Burke really meant it when he was at the top of the scouting list. I have faith and want to see THIS guy become an impact player.

 

[Alflives*]

Assuming you were talking about who you'd trade Rielly out of this list, here are my answers.

Rielly is OURS now. The moment we picked him, his value skyrocketed. The Leafs clearly saw something in him and I believe Burke really meant it when he was at the top of the scouting list. I have faith and want to see THIS guy become an impact player.

He will be a great player, providing the Leafs have a #1 goalie behind him. If not, then he will likely follow in the footsteps of other Leafs' 'D' and lose confidence and regress.

 

[The Saurus]

He will be a great player, providing the Leafs have a #1 goalie behind him. If not, then he will likely follow in the footsteps of other Leafs' 'D' and lose confidence and regress.

Hahaha, a Canucks fan who thinks the Leafs should pay an arm and a leg for Roberto Luongo. Why am I not surprised that you posted this?

You heard it here first, folks. If the Leafs do not trade for Roberto, Morgan Rielly is going to bust.

 

[newfy]

actually "scouts" will tell you that Hamilton also needs work defensively. and Brendan Bell was also CHL defenseman of the year.

and we shall see how the PK breaks down at the WJC.

and, of course, Craig Button happens to have actually made a career as a scout, so there's at least one scout who disagrees with you.

but hey, just watch them at the WJC, and see what you see.

How many dmen have been CHL defender of the year while still having a year of junior eligibility and put up that ridiculous ppg Hamilton had though?

Rielly hasnt done anything to really put him above Hamilton, theyve been on the ice together for a few summer exhibition games and thats about it. Hamilton has the size and defensive play while Rielly may end up being better offensively but he isnt yet.

A huge WJ could change my mind but until then Rielly is probably the third best defensive prospect out there and could still be fourth in his draft year. That doesnt mean he isnt an absolute stud dman prospect but I'm betting on half of the people hyping him up so much as not even seeing a moose jaw game yet this year. The bad team argument works to an extent but he isnt producing huge offensive numbers and he isnt known for his strong defensive play.

 

[zeke]

CHL defenders of the year:

2011–12 Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs
2010–11 Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires
2009–10 David Savard, Moncton Wildcats
2008–09 Jonathon Blum, Vancouver Giants
2007–08 Karl Alzner, Calgary Hitmen
2006–07 Kris Russell, Medicine Hat Tigers
2005–06 Keith Yandle, Moncton Wildcats
2004–05 Danny Syvret, London Knights
2003–04 James Wisniewski, Plymouth Whalers
2002–03 Brendan Bell, Ottawa 67's
2001–02 Dan Hamhuis, Prince George Cougars
2000–01 Marc-Andre Bergeron, Shawinigan Cataractes
1999–00 Micki Dupont, Kamloops Blazers
1998–99 Brad Stuart, Calgary Hitmen
1997–98 Derrick Walser, Rimouski Océanic
1996–97 Sean Blanchard, Ottawa 67's
1995–96 Bryan Berard, Detroit Junior Red Wings
1994–95 Nolan Baumgartner, Kamloops Blazers
1993–94 Steve Gosselin, Chicoutimi Saguenéens
1992–93 Chris Pronger, Peterborough Petes
1991–92 Drake Berehowsky, North Bay Centennials
1990–91 Patrice Brisebois, Drummondville Voltigeurs
1989–90 John Slaney, Cornwall Royals
1988–89 Bryan Fogarty, Niagara Falls Thunder
1987–88 Greg Hawgood, Kamloops Blazers

 

[zeke]

Rielly hasnt done anything to really put him above Hamilton, theyve been on the ice together for a few summer exhibition games and thats about it. Hamilton has the size and defensive play while Rielly may end up being better offensively but he isnt yet.
.

His defensive play and lack of physicality are actually weaknesses, not strengths of Hamilton's game.

 

[crump]

CHL defenders of the year:

edit

Some good defenders there, but only one I would call elite.

 

[newfy]

His defensive play and lack of physicality are actually weaknesses, not strengths of Hamilton's game.

Yeah but when he does decide to play physical hes actually not bad because of his size, its more of a mental thing for him to not play physical because he can when he wants to. Rielly plays even less physical and doesnt have the size to do so as effectively as Hamilton.

I'm also aware of Hamilton having defense considered a weakness but thats also relative to the rest of his game which is good enough to make him the best D prospect in hockey. Not amazing defensively but strong enough coupled with others areas of his game and he still has a defensive edge on Rielly.

When I wrote that I meant in comparison to Rielly, not that he was amazing at either of those things. I dont think anyone will disagree with that assessment