What is Morgan Rielly
- Thread starter Puckstuff
- Start date
tmlms13
Registered User
Honestly feel terrible for the guy.
-Goes through those awful awful years full of drama but doesn't let it faze him and commits for 6 more years without even knowing Matthews was on the way.
-Puts in lots of respectable years while taking heavy heat from the fanbase at certain points all while being a likeable down to earth guy.
-Could have went to free agency and secured an extra few millions but instead signs a fair deal with the Leafs.
-His play begins to fall off a cliff as he enters his 30s which is completely normal for offensive defenseman.
-Fanbase turns on him as his contract already looks like a boat anchor in year 1
IMO this is a very underrated drawback of the salary cap. In other sports, overpaid vets are just kind of there but nobody makes a big stink out of it because it's not completely hampering a team's ability to build a solid roster. In hockey, if you're making a ton of cash but underperforming, you're a massive negative asset to your team and everyone knows it. It's even more ruthless when you consider hockey age curves. Players fall off much earlier and faster than basketball/baseball guys so anybody signing a huge deal at the end of their prime is almost guaranteed to be dead weight at some point.
There's so much focus on the salary cap nowadays in the NHL that pretty much every single fan that follows a team closely is aware of how much cash each player is making and judges them through that lens. It sucks for the players but at the same time it's hard to feel bad for guys making millions. Obviously guys with crap contracts still get ragged on in other sports but it's nowhere near the same extent as NHL players.
All this to say, Dubas knew this was a risky move but was probably hoping for another season or two of him being a legit #1. It's just so ironic that Sandin seemed like the Rielly replcement lurking in the weeds and his ascent in WSH coincides directly with Rielly's hard decline. In retrospect, the best course of action would have been letting him walk and investing the funds elsewhere or Keefe starting to give parts of Rielly's role to Sandin before it became too late.
-Goes through those awful awful years full of drama but doesn't let it faze him and commits for 6 more years without even knowing Matthews was on the way.
-Puts in lots of respectable years while taking heavy heat from the fanbase at certain points all while being a likeable down to earth guy.
-Could have went to free agency and secured an extra few millions but instead signs a fair deal with the Leafs.
-His play begins to fall off a cliff as he enters his 30s which is completely normal for offensive defenseman.
-Fanbase turns on him as his contract already looks like a boat anchor in year 1
IMO this is a very underrated drawback of the salary cap. In other sports, overpaid vets are just kind of there but nobody makes a big stink out of it because it's not completely hampering a team's ability to build a solid roster. In hockey, if you're making a ton of cash but underperforming, you're a massive negative asset to your team and everyone knows it. It's even more ruthless when you consider hockey age curves. Players fall off much earlier and faster than basketball/baseball guys so anybody signing a huge deal at the end of their prime is almost guaranteed to be dead weight at some point.
There's so much focus on the salary cap nowadays in the NHL that pretty much every single fan that follows a team closely is aware of how much cash each player is making and judges them through that lens. It sucks for the players but at the same time it's hard to feel bad for guys making millions. Obviously guys with crap contracts still get ragged on in other sports but it's nowhere near the same extent as NHL players.
All this to say, Dubas knew this was a risky move but was probably hoping for another season or two of him being a legit #1. It's just so ironic that Sandin seemed like the Rielly replcement lurking in the weeds and his ascent in WSH coincides directly with Rielly's hard decline. In retrospect, the best course of action would have been letting him walk and investing the funds elsewhere or Keefe starting to give parts of Rielly's role to Sandin before it became too late.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 81,513
- 59,277
Yes, you can't help but feel bad for a nice guy who can't even be allowed to be overpaid and underperform in peace and quiet.
The alternate solution here is he gets his head right, uses the time left in the season to get healthy and play to his capability.
Gilmour1996
Registered User
- Oct 16, 2022
- 1,158
- 1,409
Oh well. He can always waive his NMC if he feels the fans in Toronto don't appreciate him. I'm sure there are other teams willing to take him at the right price.
thewave
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2011
- 42,124
- 12,541
It's not really a Rielly problem. It's a Dubas and Keefe problem. Two elements of this team that they can not get it right and the proof is in 1st round exits / poor contracts / terrible tending choices. All of this comes down to DubeHockey and Keefe.
Rielly is what he is. I have seen him play great with a good defensive partner and there is a time and place for the guy. You think Keefe understands chemistry? The guy is a chit chucker that just throws chit at the wall and hopes it sticks. A counterfeit coach that should not even sniff the NHL.
That's what I think.
CabanaBoy5
Registered User
Rielly, zero points in last 3 games, 2 points in last five, 6 points in last 10 games. A minus 4 on the season, he also has 50 giveaways this season, most in his career. But, that's ok because he's paid for his offence not his abysmal defence. He's an offensive defenceman with only 2 goals and 32 points on the season despite a TOI of 22 minutes and first PP minutes on the #3 PP in the league. All of this for 7.5 million cap hit. Yeah, but he's a playoff performer they say. Well if he doesn't perform better in the playoffs, then time to tie an anvil to his ankle and toss him overboard.
The Management
Registered User
- Jun 8, 2009
- 2,044
- 2,330
I've been a backer of his years, but this season he has been hard to watch. Rielly has always gambled defensively, but you don't really even see those end-to-end rushes anymore where he's capable of carrying the play. Really hope he gets sorted out before the playoffs.
tmlms13
Registered User
kk87
Registered User
Hasn't had a good season by any means, but he's been arguably our most consistent playoff performer, year in and year out, ever since 2017. I'm not big on old-school intangibles, but he's one guy where you absolutely can't question his effort or compete level.
There've been a couple times in recent years where he's faltered down the stretch and then looked great come playoff time. I'm more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
There've been a couple times in recent years where he's faltered down the stretch and then looked great come playoff time. I'm more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
ULF_55
Moderator
No smart GM would offer anything of value for one of the worst defensive D in the NHL with very limited skills and low IQ. Nobody would trade for another 7 years of Rielly unless a bad contract is coming back.
thusk
Registered User
The biggest problem for rielly was muzzin injury... during his carreer, when rielly was at his best was when he didn't have to play against toughest matchup game after game... but with muzzin injury, leafs had nobody to replace Muzzin so rielly had to play at this Muzzin spot and its not rielly spot where he will look at his best
Mccabe is here not to take that spot, so i expect since end of season to see rielly get back his confidence and his game.
Its also the same reason why i was unable to see any futur with rielly AND sandin in leafs top 4, because that will 100% forcing rielly playing in that "Muzzin" and get the worst of rielly ( or sandin)...
Mccabe is here not to take that spot, so i expect since end of season to see rielly get back his confidence and his game.
Its also the same reason why i was unable to see any futur with rielly AND sandin in leafs top 4, because that will 100% forcing rielly playing in that "Muzzin" and get the worst of rielly ( or sandin)...
Has all the tools but doesn't seem to be a serious athlete. That joke interview with Tavares was telling, with Tavares taking constant jabs at Rielly's poor diet and conditioning. It sounded like he was talking to Phil Kessel. You can just look at the guy and see he's surprisingly pudgy for what he's supposed to be - and he's almost 230lbs. Just doesn't add up for a PMD.
I think there is still time for him to have a really significant mindset switch, put in a crazy offseason and return to form. Unfortunately if it's after another 1st round exit it will be too late for this core.
I think there is still time for him to have a really significant mindset switch, put in a crazy offseason and return to form. Unfortunately if it's after another 1st round exit it will be too late for this core.
Matthews4Calder
Registered User
I garauntee you there would be plenty of very serious suitors if we put Rielly up for trade. And there would be cap coming back obviously, but no bad contracts.
Mess
Global Moderator
How many elite #1 defenders are there? Just want to see which teams you are implying are able to win a cup and how many can't.
Gilmour1996
Registered User
- Oct 16, 2022
- 1,158
- 1,409
Yikes!
At that point you’re better off retaining $2.5 mil per year. Someone will bite for $5 mil per
Yikes!
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