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Morgan Rielly signs 3-year Entry Level Contract

Tanaer said:
We will be very happy with Rielly on board.  I'm pretty happy we got him signed.  I was wondering if it would happen with all the other signings.  He has a good opportunity to be the leader on defense here in Moose Jaw with several of the vets likely to move to NHL farm teams this year (provided there is no work stoppage).  I'm looking forward to a full year with him here (Moose Jaw).  I feel relief that he is signed now; for some reason I feared some sort of problem getting him signed.  Just pessimism I guess.  I wonder if there will be a few more Leaf jerseys worn at Warriors games now?  :)
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No disrespect to you and all other CHL fans, but I don't understand why the NHL doesn't insist on letting at least 1st rounders have the choice of forgoing the last year of junior and stepping up to the AHL.  I totally understand the position of CHL teams and wanting to keep their stars for another year, but in terms of developing the best young players it makes no sense.  Honestly, what is Rielly going to get out of another year in the WHL?  He should be in the AHL this season.  Or am I missing something??
 
This is entirely based off scouting reports and videos on youtube, but I think he's got a higher offensive ceiling than Gardiner, and possibly even slightly better skating (although it's probably just as easy to say it could be a wash).  I've read scouting reports that say his ceiling is an elite offensive d-man.

Hard to say at this point though.
 
Although let's be fair. That's a stupid way to spell his name. For our sake, he should really consider changing it.
 
The thing with him is that given he essentially missed a year of junior, playing there will do him no harm, allow him to dominate and grow physically without the physical demands of playing in a men's league at 18.

I agree with you in certain cases though Zan, allowing a 19 year old to play in the AHL if he has played a good couple of full years in junior, some of these boys are physically ready earlier than others.
 
WhatIfGodWasALeaf said:
I agree with you in certain cases though Zan, allowing a 19 year old to play in the AHL if he has played a good couple of full years in junior, some of these boys are physically ready earlier than others.
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I agree but even more than questions of physical readiness or prior junior experience it's really a decision that should be made by the NHL team.
 
Nik? said:
Although let's be fair. That's a stupid way to spell his name. For our sake, he should really consider changing it.
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In complete and total agreement. It really is inconsiderate of him.
 
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
No disrespect to you and all other CHL fans, but I don't understand why the NHL doesn't insist on letting at least 1st rounders have the choice of forgoing the last year of junior and stepping up to the AHL.  I totally understand the position of CHL teams and wanting to keep their stars for another year, but in terms of developing the best young players it makes no sense.  Honestly, what is Rielly going to get out of another year in the WHL?  He should be in the AHL this season.  Or am I missing something??
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With the kid missing 90% of last year he has essentially missed one year of development. Perhaps the Leafs view it as better for him to test out his health against boys instead of men.

I also think he gets the opportunity to be a leader, be one of the top dmen in the league, and dominate a position offensively like the Leafs hope he does here in a few years.

In reality, where would he sit on the depth chart on the Marlies? Would he play 2nd pairing minutes? Would he perhaps be playing 3rd pairing minutes? What is he developing playing 10 minutes a night when he can be playing 30 in the WHL?
 
No matter where the kid might end up for toi with the Marlies, the Leafs/NHL team not having the option seems weird to me.
 
OldTimeHockey said:
Tigger said:
No matter where the kid might end up for toi with the Marlies, the Leafs/NHL team not having the option seems weird to me.
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I'm pretty sure the Leafs do have the option.
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No, they 100% do not. Prospects drafted out of the CHL cannot be assigned to the AHL until they are too old to play in junior.
 
bustaheims said:
OldTimeHockey said:
Tigger said:
No matter where the kid might end up for toi with the Marlies, the Leafs/NHL team not having the option seems weird to me.
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I'm pretty sure the Leafs do have the option.
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No, they 100% do not. Prospects drafted out of the CHL cannot be assigned to the AHL until they are too old to play in junior.
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Unless the Leafs kept him past his 9 game trial? Or would he then have to stay in the bigs?
 
OldTimeHockey said:
Unless the Leafs kept him past his 9 game trial? Or would he then have to stay in the bigs?
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All the 10 game thing does is burn a year of his contract. After that, he can still only be sent to junior. And, no matter when he's sent to junior, he can not be recalled.
 
bustaheims said:
OldTimeHockey said:
Unless the Leafs kept him past his 9 game trial? Or would he then have to stay in the bigs?
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All the 10 game thing does is burn a year of his contract. After that, he can still only be sent to junior. And, no matter when he's sent to junior, he can not be recalled.
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Ahhhh thanks busta....Learn something new every day.....That being said, I can still see why it's better suited that he spend next year in junior(for him, and the junior team).
 
OldTimeHockey said:
bustaheims said:
OldTimeHockey said:
Unless the Leafs kept him past his 9 game trial? Or would he then have to stay in the bigs?
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All the 10 game thing does is burn a year of his contract. After that, he can still only be sent to junior. And, no matter when he's sent to junior, he can not be recalled.
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Ahhhh thanks busta....Learn something new every day.....That being said, I can still see why it's better suited that he spend next year in junior(for him, and the junior team).
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Again, this all depends on what he shows the management at camp. If he turns on the jets and is too hard to leave behind, ala Gardiner last year, than they will certainly burn the year up to have him in the lineup. It's always fun to have a blue chip in the organization either way.
 
RedLeaf said:
Again, this all depends on what he shows the management at camp. If he turns on the jets and is too hard to leave behind, ala Gardiner last year, than they will certainly burn the year up to have him in the lineup. It's always fun to have a blue chip in the organization either way.
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Well, the situation here is fairly different than it was with Gardiner. A year of his contract was going to be used up no matter what, since he was either going to be a Leaf or a Marlie. He was 3 years older than Rielly is now and wasn't coming off a season that was shortened because of a significant injury. Burke's said it before - he doesn't like to bring kids into the lineup when they're still junior eligible and, on top of that, he prefers to give them a season or two in the AHL. Rielly would have to be absolutely lights out, top pairing quality fantastic in camp to not be sent back.
 
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