With the inconsistent play of the Maple Leafs defensive corps thus far this season, the club announced that they will not be releasing 2012 first rounder Morgan Rielly to Hockey Canada for the 2014 World Juniors in Sweden next month.
According to the Toronto Sun’s
Rob Longley , the 19-year-old defenseman will not be included on Hockey Canada’s selection camp roster that will be announced early next week because he is a valuable option for coach Randy Carlyle on the blueline and not having his services for close to a month would put Toronto in an even more vulnerable position.
"I'd say he's a big part of this group right here, right now and we don't see that changing at this point," Leafs assistant GM and VP of hockey operations Dave Poulin said on Friday. "That's the way we're looking at it."
Rielly has eight assists in 20 games for Toronto and has slowly been given more responsibilities and more ice time, but that does not mean that the rookie will play every night, as he was scratched in favor of Jake Gardiner in the Leafs 3-2 overtime loss to Buffalo Friday.
Retaining the former fifth overall pick could simply be the Leafs wanting to have an extra defenseman during the month of December, when their schedule gets tougher with games against San Jose, Boston, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, but could be a hint that Toronto may be ready to make a move involving a defenseman before the December 19th holiday trade freeze.
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With the overtime loss in Buffalo on Friday, the Leafs record in November fell to 4-5-3. One of the main factors in their decline has been sudden mortality of their penalty killing, which was near the top of the league at nearly 90% effectiveness through October but have allowed 12 power play goals in the last dozen games, lowering their efficiency to 79%(20th in the NHL).
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The Leafs did not practice in Saturday morning after getting to Montreal late following Friday’s game. With Reimer playing against Buffalo, it is expected that Jonathan Bernier will get the start at the Bell Centre against the Canadiens.
Head coach Randy Carlyle may tweak his lineup slightly, inserting Rielly in favor of veteran Paul Ranger, who took two minor penalties that led to Buffalo goals.
will update
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