Making predictions is a mug's game, so it's about time I started living up/down to my talents.
*Morgan Rielly will establish himself as a true #1 [edit, due to confusion as to what I meant: top 10 in the league, without argument] quality Dman in the NHL during the 2018/19 season.*
Physically strong, now experienced, having developed some quality leadership character, he'll now be playing with the strongest group of players he's had as a Leaf. Babcock, Imo, will lean more on Rielly than ever before. I see Morgs becoming a part of the 2nd unit PK, continuing his role facing the toughest players on the other teams, will spell - if not start - on the right side as Babcock realizes that Hainsey cannot deal with the minutes throughout a season that he was given on a nightly basis last year. Rielly will continue to excel on the PP and I expect that he'll average +23/24 min/game by the end of the season. I expect his point total to increase as his usage expands. His motivation, given the quality of his team mates, will be at an all time high and I think this will propel him to showing Babs that he is the defenseman that should be on the ice when it matters most. While no Duncan Keith in the nasty department, I see Morgan becoming more physical and in fact, while thinking of Keith, I anticipate Rielly's development this year to be somewhat similar to Keith's in the late 00s.
*Morgan Rielly will establish himself as a true #1 [edit, due to confusion as to what I meant: top 10 in the league, without argument] quality Dman in the NHL during the 2018/19 season.*
Physically strong, now experienced, having developed some quality leadership character, he'll now be playing with the strongest group of players he's had as a Leaf. Babcock, Imo, will lean more on Rielly than ever before. I see Morgs becoming a part of the 2nd unit PK, continuing his role facing the toughest players on the other teams, will spell - if not start - on the right side as Babcock realizes that Hainsey cannot deal with the minutes throughout a season that he was given on a nightly basis last year. Rielly will continue to excel on the PP and I expect that he'll average +23/24 min/game by the end of the season. I expect his point total to increase as his usage expands. His motivation, given the quality of his team mates, will be at an all time high and I think this will propel him to showing Babs that he is the defenseman that should be on the ice when it matters most. While no Duncan Keith in the nasty department, I see Morgan becoming more physical and in fact, while thinking of Keith, I anticipate Rielly's development this year to be somewhat similar to Keith's in the late 00s.
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