That's a good catch. After the Kerfoot goal, Rielly and Dermott only had 1 more shift. Holl & Muzzin had 5 shifts, Bogo had 4 (one overlapping with Muzzin, who had a longer shift), Brodie 3.
- Monkeypunk

That's a bit odd to me though. If Rielly is our #1, why was he benched?

That's a bit odd to me though. If Rielly is our #1, why was he benched?
- PatC80

imo, he is #1 by default...since he is the "best" defenceman
to me a true #1 is who you want out against the best..and they can hold their own. (not get caved in)

Rielly doesnt do that...most of the time...

Perserverance landed
very cool

imo, he is #1 by default...since he is the "best" defenceman
to me a true #1 is who you want out against the best..and they can hold their own. (not get caved in)

Rielly doesnt do that...most of the time...
- senstroll

I know it was only one game but what if he's lost Keefe's trust?

Perserverance landed
very cool
- Aetherial

I'd say my perseverance is far gone at this hour.

imo, he is #1 by default...since he is the "best" defenceman
to me a true #1 is who you want out against the best..and they can hold their own. (not get caved in)

Rielly doesnt do that...most of the time...
- senstroll

Muzzin-Holl is our top pairing

Happy birthday to Maple Leaf great Martin Marincin, oh and Alexander Mogilny
- Canada Cup

That's a bit odd to me though. If Rielly is our #1, why was he benched?
- PatC80

I think Rielly is a play driver, but he is also a high risk defenseman who isn't exactly winning many battles nor suppressing many chances against. His value is with the puck. When the other team pulls the goalie and is out 6 on 5, Rielly's value decreases significantly.

It might actually be a good thing if we have other guys we can trust more. We all like Morgan Rielly, but at 26 his defensive game is probably not improving significantly from this point forward.

That's a bit odd to me though. If Rielly is our #1, why was he benched?
- PatC80

Our best shut down guys are Holl and Muzzin

Muzzin-Holl is our top pairing
- Steven_Seagull

then does it make sense to sign him to 6-7-8mil and sacrifice someone else? (willy)

im sure they keep Rielly since he is liked, been here the longest and fans would poop a brick

but he has been around the whole time the Leafs have been sucky on D, had several partners...and none have been great ...the common denominator in the Reilly pairings ..is Rielly

I know it was only one game but what if he's lost Keefe's trust?
- PatC80

Adding on top of this, there was some preseason talk that the addition of Bogosian might reduce Rielly's late game exposure because he was playing a shut down role adequately in Tampa during the playoffs. So here we saw it - roll out Bogosian with Brodie instead of Rielly.

I think Rielly is a play driver, but he is also a high risk defenseman who isn't exactly winning many battles nor suppressing many chances against. His value is with the puck. When the other team pulls the goalie and is out 6 on 5, Rielly's value decreases significantly.

It might actually be a good thing if we have other guys we can trust more. We all like Morgan Rielly, but at 26 his defensive game is probably not improving significantly from this point forward.
- Monkeypunk

To me, that sounds like Rielly is not a #1 guy... If your coach can't trust you in the final minutes of a close game.

That's a bit odd to me though. If Rielly is our #1, why was he benched?
- PatC80

It’s what I said before. He feels way too liberated playing with a good partner and he’s a bit too ambitious. He’s still the most skilled, he just needs to scale it back from 11. Play with Bogo a bit (a little bit)

then does it make sense to sign him to 6-7-8mil and sacrifice someone else? (willy)

im sure they keep Rielly since he is liked, been here the longest and fans would poop a brick

but he has been around the whole time the Leafs have been sucky on D, had several partners...and none have been great ...the common denominator in the Reilly pairings ..is Rielly
- senstroll

I can't see Rielly staying here if he wants more than $6M per season. This year, it just seems like he is more of a Torey Krug type

Adding on top of this, there was some preseason talk that the addition of Bogosian might reduce Rielly's late game exposure because he was playing a shut down role adequately in Tampa during the playoffs. So here we saw it - roll out Bogosian with Brodie instead of Rielly.
- Monkeypunk

Hopefully, Sandin is ready to make the jump soon..

It’s what I said before. He feels way too liberated playing with a good partner and he’s a bit too ambitious. He’s still the most skilled, he just needs to scale it back from 11. Play with Bogo a bit (a little bit)
- Canada Cup

that's fair but we don't need more offensive players

I know it was only one game but what if he's lost Keefe's trust?
- PatC80

Rielly's always been boom/bust at 5v5 ...not what you'd hope from a true #1. But, his skills are excellent. He can fly and sees the ice well when he has the puck. He's got gamebreakinig skills. Hard not to keep coaching and giving a guy like that a long leash.

It's going to be a tough call.

Team 🇨🇦 options on D

LHD

Theodore
Chabot
Rielly
Nurse
Giordano
Girard
Sanheim

RHD

Makar
Pietrangelo
Ekblad
Weber
Parayko
Hamilton
Doughty
P Myers
Burns

Can we just use six RHD😞

To me, that sounds like Rielly is not a #1 guy... If your coach can't trust you in the final minutes of a close game.
- PatC80

I don't think Rielly has ever been a true #1 guy. True #1 guys are rolled out in all situations: 5v5 play driving, PP, PK and Shutdown. Burns, Doughty, Josi, Pietrangelo, Hedman, Jones . . .

Rielly leads all Leaf defensmen in ice time, but on average he's 25th in the league among his peers. He's heavily utilized (23-24 minutes), but he's not relied upon in the same way as the elite guys are (25+ minutes).

I can't see Rielly staying here if he wants more than $6M per season. This year, it just seems like he is more of a Torey Krug type
- PatC80

Was going to say the same ...if he's looking for Krug type coin then lock him up. If he's looking for Josi coin then this summer you consider your other options.

I can't see Rielly staying here if he wants more than $6M per season. This year, it just seems like he is more of a Torey Krug type
- PatC80

I think better . . . but I don't think this comparison falls too far off the mark. Because he is our best offensive defenseman, and the best skating defenseman, he is relied upon in more situations than he probably should be because of limited options elsewhere on the back-end. Hopefully Sandin can step up, but he won't fill Rielly's spot.

I can't see Rielly staying here if he wants more than $6M per season. This year, it just seems like he is more of a Torey Krug type
- PatC80

You guys are kidding yourselves.

With the numbers he puts up, he's looking at $7.5M per year, minimum.

You guys are kidding yourselves.

With the numbers he puts up, he's looking at $7.5M per year, minimum.
- Atomic Wedgie

Pack your poop Morgan..... and don’t forget the Sucubus 😡😁

To me, that sounds like Rielly is not a #1 guy... If your coach can't trust you in the final minutes of a close game.
- PatC80

To be fair, there aren't a lot of puck-moving defencemen - even first pairing guys - who coaches throw out in the final minute with a one goal lead.

You guys are kidding yourselves.

With the numbers he puts up, he's looking at $7.5M per year, minimum.
- Atomic Wedgie

Nobody's kidding themselves ...he'll get 8+ on the open market. But, that doesn't mean the Leafs should give it to him.

For me it's about cap allocation and asset management. I'm not sure the Leafs are better with Rielly at 8+ when you factor in that they'd have to cut elsewhere.

If I'm handing 8+ to a D he HAS to be the guy. Not just our best guy.