Morgan Rielly
- Thread starter disco
- Start date
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Great hit.
LuncheonMeat
New member
I'm not sure if there's anything to it, but it's surprising that 2 guys who have been put in a more defensively responsible/shut-down type of role have responded with very good offensive seasons to date (Rielly, Kadri).
Beowulf
New member
LuncheonMeat said:
That could be a result of the increased firepower the Leafs have now. Last year they only had Nylander for a handful of games, this year they have a more seasoned Nylander plus Matthews and Marner. That takes some of the pressure off of Kadri (and Bozak and JVR) as teams really have to pick and choose who they match their top pairing and shutdown line with. It also provides more talent to convert on the chances that Rielly creates and as well to feed Rielly the puck in dangerous areas.
disco
New member
Also, Babs putting out Naz/Reilly continually against the other teams top line will still afford offensive opportunities once the turnover happens. We've definitely seen bursts of that from the both of them.
Really pleased with the play of our two oldest homegrown 'veterans' this year. That in combination with the firepower of the young guns who will only improve as the years go by. Also the steady stream of picks yielding possibilities in these drafts, the future is indeed bright.
Really pleased with the play of our two oldest homegrown 'veterans' this year. That in combination with the firepower of the young guns who will only improve as the years go by. Also the steady stream of picks yielding possibilities in these drafts, the future is indeed bright.
Zee
Active member
At what point do we start to get worried about Rielly? I haven't seen a huge jump in his game this season, if anything he's looked poor out there many times. I think Gardiner has been the overall better of the two, both offensively and defensively. Really impressed with how Gardiner can rag the puck and hold onto it to make a play even under pressure. I don't see the same poise or smarts from Rielly on a consistent basis. After his play in the world cup, I really thought Rielly was ready to take the next step and be a huge force out there, but I have yet to see it.
Zee said:
Some of that may be growing pains. Look at Gardiner the last couple of years. The same questions were asked about him. He's now 26 and seems to be putting it together. It takes some time before some players put it all together. Reilly has never struck me as an "All of the tools but no toolbox" type of player. He seems coachable. He has skill. I think at some point he'll put it all together. That doesn't mean though that he is destined to be a 30 minute a night stud d-man. It may be that what he really needs to be effective is less time.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
They mythical number quoted for dmen to finish their apprenticeship is often 350 games.
Rielly will pretty much be there by season/playoffs end this year.
I think there is also a lot to be said for QOC when it comes to comparing he and Gardiner.
I think he's already a top pairing guy, probably just not a #1 and I don't know if he'll ever be able to fully grow offensively if he doesn't have another legit top pairing player beside him to help stifle the opposition's best players. Only then I think will we see him really break out offensively too.
Also, let's remember he is still only 22.
Rielly will pretty much be there by season/playoffs end this year.
I think there is also a lot to be said for QOC when it comes to comparing he and Gardiner.
I think he's already a top pairing guy, probably just not a #1 and I don't know if he'll ever be able to fully grow offensively if he doesn't have another legit top pairing player beside him to help stifle the opposition's best players. Only then I think will we see him really break out offensively too.
Also, let's remember he is still only 22.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
He's within the top 20 D in the league in terms of even strength points this season which is impressive to me.
Kin
New member
I think it depends on what you mean by worried. In terms of "Will Rielly ever become an all-star type #1" then honestly the odds were long against that coming into this year regardless. If he's not there in the next year or two it probably won't happen but, again, I don't think it's likely no matter what.
Just in terms of general improvement I think if we haven't seen anything in the next year or two it would be time to re-evaluate how he fits long term but right now I think WIGWAL is right. He's playing pretty well for a 22 year old defenseman with a rookie partner and on a lousy defensive club.
Just in terms of general improvement I think if we haven't seen anything in the next year or two it would be time to re-evaluate how he fits long term but right now I think WIGWAL is right. He's playing pretty well for a 22 year old defenseman with a rookie partner and on a lousy defensive club.
herman
Well-known member
This is pretty much the first year Rielly has had a consistent, competent, but still developing partner while on his strong side since he got into the NHL. He is learning how to play without the puck, because in junior, he always just had it. It's a natural growth step for any good players to take, but Rielly had a lot of weird early seasons when the team was in turmoil.
I still see him as Doughty-lite. Well above average skater, pretty good hands, disgustingly strong down low for his size. It's mostly decision making and developing chemistry/communication that has held him back this season (he's at what, 20ish games with Zaitsev?). He's the right kind of player we want on the backend with the way we want to play.
I still see him as Doughty-lite. Well above average skater, pretty good hands, disgustingly strong down low for his size. It's mostly decision making and developing chemistry/communication that has held him back this season (he's at what, 20ish games with Zaitsev?). He's the right kind of player we want on the backend with the way we want to play.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
Sorry about that, I'll remove the post in question.