The longest tenured member of the team, Morgan Rielly has been through some good and bad times, and frankly some pretty rough times. Having to contend with being the best blueliner on the ice at times, and not finding success even when he’s scoring.
Though Toronto clearly envisioned Rielly for the long-term, it’s frustrating to see the defenseman struggling this year, and it’s causing some issues when it comes to their cap situation as well as their constant lineup shuffling.
Morgan Rielly Isn’t Playing Up To Expectations
Being paid $7.5M, you’d expect Rielly to be one of the team’s most consistent offensive and defensive producers, but the eye test tells a different story.
Having slowed down his offensive numbers considerably, not being a strong defender, then not stepping up when the team needs him the most.
While he does have four goals and 14 assists, it’s a far cry from the offensive punch he used to bring. Normally a powerplay catalyst, he only has one goal and seven points on the man advantage; a huge reason into why the Leafs were so terrible at the start of the year.
He’s a minus-9, on pace for some of the lowest hit rates of his career, and playing the least amount of minutes since his rookie year; things aren’t looking up for the veteran.
Currently in year three of his eight-year deal, it’s a worrying sign that Rielly is on the decline not even halfway through his contract. Toronto is in a bad spot when it comes to their finances and Rielly’s inability to play up to his skillset is slowly looking like a considerable overpayment.
He’s 30, and while it’s not the oldest age to be an NHL player, Rielly will be 35 years old when his contract expires and if he’s declining now, who knows how bad the deal will look in a few years.
Morgan Rielly deserves his flowers for sticking through some of the toughest times in recent Maple Leafs history.
But with the team needing him more than ever and finding some measure of success, it’s time for him to step up because if not, it’s time to start worrying.
