Whatever else one sees in Rielly's game, I don't think one can argue his passion to help the Leafs, on and off the ice. He was hampered by playing under Carlyle's team of mediocre talent, unstructured and 'leaderless' and yet always gave his all. His first season under Babcock and a tanking team and his efforts never wavered. Babcock's desire for Morgan to grow his defensive awareness was embraced while being partnered with less than stellar talent. Even when twinned with Zaitsev - the best of his regular partners - Zaitsev was a rookie and on a steep learning curve - Rielly displayed a common trait amongst young dmen, a desire to do too much. This often led to being out of position while trying to help his partner, to over committing, to basically doing the things that some here use to marginalize his potential. Though a small sample size, I'd counter this approach with the evidence of what Rielly produces when coupled with above average partners and forwards. During his time with the Canadian U20s, his efforts at the WCs and last fall's NA Team, Morgan has performed admirably, if not more so. I believe we saw continuing evidence of what he is capable of during the latter part of last season. The team around him was more disciplined, his teammates more talented and confident than at any time in his career as a Leaf, the goaltending had solidified, his ankle problems solved...and he began to shine, as he had when playing on better teams. If Hainsey proves to be a good partner with Morgan, at least better than those who he has partnered with in the past, coupled with the better talent around him and his own growing maturity as a defenseman, I believe 17/18 will be the season we see Morgan Rielly emerge as a capable, perhaps even very solid 1st pairing defenseman in the NHL. I'll go so far as to say, and this really exposes the fanboy in me, that if Rielly does make that jump, he deserves a good deal of consideration for the captaincy of the team. IMO, the kid bleeds blue.
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