Morgan Rielly

[93LEAFS]

Best Leafs defender I have had the pleasure to watch. With the stream of negative threads such as jumping on Nylander or asking if the Tavares was worth it, this is much appreciated.

I never thought he'd get to the level he is currently playing at. He is looking like our Duncan Keith (although, not as likely to take a penalty or suspension).

 

[Apotheosis]

Best Leafs defender I have had the pleasure to watch. With the stream of negative threads such as jumping on Nylander or asking if the Tavares was worth it, this is much appreciated.

I never thought he'd get to the level he is currently playing at. He is looking like our Duncan Keith (although, not as likely to take a penalty or suspension).

I think there is a good chance he can peak as high as Keith too. He has NEVER had a partner remotely as good as peak Seabrook. He's doing this all with a dead corpse Hainsey while simultaneously improving his own defensive game. Hainsey is the best partner he has ever had as well.

 

[Melo Meds]

There was a Leaf poster on here who was demanding he would be taken off the PP which is ridiculous. Defense is one of those positions where it's easy to nit pick on a bad play or two. They have to make plays under pressure every shift. Rielly is elite at doing so. He just needs an upgrade on his partner.

 

[Nooodles]

And the guy is freaking 24.

 

[93LEAFS]

There was a Leaf poster on here who was demanding he would be taken off the PP which is ridiculous. Defense is one of those positions where it's easy to nit pick on a bad play or two. They have to make plays under pressure every shift. Rielly is elite at doing so. He just needs an upgrade on his partner.

You get enough people talking on one topic your bound to hear some insane shit.

 

[mulefarm]

I think there is a good chance he can peak as high as Keith too. He has NEVER had a partner remotely as good as peak Seabrook. He's doing this all with a dead corpse Hainsey while simultaneously improving his own defensive game. Hainsey is the best partner he has ever had as well.

Actually, I think Hainsey has been very good for Mo. knows his roll and gets Mo the puck in good position to make plays. This is something Zaitsev doesn’t do for Gardiner.

 

[A1LeafNation]

#1 franchise dman you build your dcore around. No #1 franchise center in the 2012 draft.

He would go #1 in the re-draft.

 

[saltming]

On the first page of this board I see:
*Willy looks bad
*Metcalf (wtf?)
*Worst Leaf of all time
*Millen vs Romanuk (are you f*cking kidding me?)
etc., etc., etc.

And yet not one thread dedicated to the defenseman who leads the league in scoring for D. What am I missing? I'm not hyping Norris, I am saying that this is the best presentation of one player on the back end the Leafs have had in years. Full stop.

I'm going out on a limb here folks. Morgan, you've been a revelation this year and I thank you. You're the best Dman we've had since Salming. I just wish your partner was more capable in playing a game that suited your strengths. Wishing you continued success.

I was thinking the exact same thing last night but was too tired to start a thread so thanks!

Doing all he has so far while playing against the oppositions best lines.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Actually, I think Hainsey has been very good for Mo. knows his roll and gets Mo the puck in good position to make plays. This is something Zaitsev doesn’t do for Gardiner.

Hainsey has done an admirable job, considering that it's Ron Hainsey. He's does OK playing over his head because of valiant effort, but it's going to be nigh impossible for him to keep playing well all the way through a playoff run. He's just not talented enough and age catches everyone.

Really, we need an upgrade to play with Rielly. Not just because of what it would do for the top pair, but what it would do for the bottom 4 by allowing Hainsey to play there.

 

[34]

#1 franchise dman you build your dcore around. No #1 franchise center in the 2012 draft.

He would go #1 in the re-draft.

Easily, 1st overall in his draft.

 

[IPS]

Easily, 1st overall in his draft.

Yeah pretty sure HFBoards was still putting Filip Forsberg ahead of him in a 2012 redraft

Doesn't matter what Rielly does, he'll never be a #1D around here.

 

[7even]

Easily, 1st overall in his draft.

He's really come into his own. I remember when Burke made the pick, my first reaction was goddamnit Grigorenko and Forsberg are still on the board! Lol. I came around pretty quick on him, if we were taking a defenseman he was my favorite pick. It's easy to forget just how terrible our forwards were at the time. Geez that was 6 years ago...

 

[Buds17]

The only players with a higher point production than Rielly from his draft are Galchenyuk and Forsberg.

We got lucky getting Mo at 5

Not to mention they're forwards and Rielly's a d-man. Galchenyuk was also drafted ahead of him. We've got a terrific, all situations defender on a great contract.

 

[7even]

The only players with a higher point production than Rielly from his draft are Galchenyuk and Forsberg.

We got lucky getting Mo at 5

Basically as good as it could've gone. You can get players like Rielly and Pettersson at 5...but you can just as easily wind up with a Schenn, Dal Colle, or Ryan Strome. Winning the coin toss on Matthews was huge but we've done a great job of hitting on our top picks recently what with Rielly at 5, Nylander at 8, Marner at 4. Pretty rare to not only avoid a bust with any of those but each time draft a guy who outperforms their slot. Feelsgoodman.

 

[IPS]

Basically as good as it could've gone. You can get players like Rielly and Pettersson at 5...but you can just as easily wind up with a Schenn, Dal Colle, or Ryan Strome. Winning the coin toss on Matthews was huge but we've done a great job of hitting on our top picks recently what with Rielly at 5, Nylander at 8, Marner at 4. Pretty rare to not only avoid a bust with any of those but each time draft a guy who outperforms their slot. Feelsgoodman.

Imagine how bad New Jersey feels about drafting Zacha in 2015. A draft that's overflowing with elite talent all the way through and you draft a bust at #6

 

[meefer]

why not?

the only serious challenger at this point would be Gio - he's the only other guy facing the other team's top line every night and still dominating offensively.

Because it will play out as it does. I'm just very happy that we've got ourselves a heck of a player.

 

[Keep Sorokin Me Babe]

What % of his starts are in the offensive zone? Feels like a lot. Giordano goes up against the other team's best forwards and is still putting up great offensive numbers, I'd say he has the edge at this point

 

[meefer]

Rielly 53.9 vs Giordano 53.4% OZ starts according to Hockey Reference.

 

[GoldenGOOSE]

Totally understimated, totally run down. Wow, bet this guy goes for the home run on the next contract.

 

[TMLS]

Gud pro and veteran presence Hainsey is actually holding him back.

 

[TakeTheBody]

Reilly has been great. The better he's playing the more confidence he gains. He will be a #1 pretty much the rest of his career. He was always fairly solid but he has really come on this season.

Now the bad news. He has no chance at the Norris this season. The Norris trophy to me seems like the award in hockey that's 2-3 late in recognizing who actually deserves to win. I'm guessing Reilly is more concerned about the team and winning a Cup, When the Leafs eventually name a Captain his name should be near the top if not at the top of list..

 

[zeke]

What % of his starts are in the offensive zone? Feels like a lot. Giordano goes up against the other team's best forwards and is still putting up great offensive numbers, I'd say he has the edge at this point

Mo faces elite of elite quality of competition and has for years.

 

[Marshy]

Just being a finalist for the Norris will be a huge accomplishment. I like his chances there.

 

[Leafsfan74]

On the first page of this board I see:
*Willy looks bad
*Metcalf (wtf?)
*Worst Leaf of all time
*Millen vs Romanuk (are you f*cking kidding me?)
etc., etc., etc.

And yet not one thread dedicated to the defenseman who leads the league in scoring for D. What am I missing? I'm not hyping Norris, I am saying that this is the best presentation of one player on the back end the Leafs have had in years. Full stop.

I'm going out on a limb here folks. Morgan, you've been a revelation this year and I thank you. You're the best Dman we've had since Salming. I just wish your partner was more capable in playing a game that suited your strengths. Wishing you continued success.

A very nice contract, he's pretty steady in his approach to the game too I think.

I try to be careful with my interest in the individual stats. Why? Honestly, at this point I just want team success. Sometimes players can't see the forest for the trees. I don't think this team is like that, I really do believe they are focused on winning, but, you always worry they will sacrifice team success for individual accolades. I suppose individual success also translates to team success. There will require tougher battling come playoffs, finding different ways to success. I can tell Babcock is on this issue and wants to drive it home, I'm sure they are listening.

It's definitely entertaining hockey, and many years that has been alone appealing enough for me. I'm really rooting for this particular team to go deep, they are a more likable team with so much young talent that playoff success would be great to see.

 

[Damisoph]

Why would the thread be posted here, when you can find one on him on the main boards!

I don't visit that cesspool.