Nope. They would have to sign him to an NHL deal to do that.
- Steven_Seagull

Be interesting to see if he’d take that before signing an NHL deal elsewhere

I watched less than 5 minutes of the game. Saw both Engvall goals. From now on I am changing the Chanel whenever he hits the ice.

Payback to you for watching the Jays.

- jribout

You watch the games?

Can't see any upgrade in Robertson's game from last year.

Can't see any upgrade in Robertson's game from last year.
- Leafsmart

We probably won't until he gets more regular NHL action. He's going to need to fail a bit in the AHL and in the NHL to find out which moves work, when they do, and when they don't - and how to adapt and evolve new ways to get space.

He was doing a decent job of making himself room and getting off shots.

The biggest detriment in his game that I see is that he shoots too often from poor angles when teammates have better options available. He's going to have to learn to be less myopic.

Still havent watched any Hockey

We probably won't until he gets more regular NHL action. He's going to need to fail a bit in the AHL and in the NHL to find out which moves work, when they do, and when they don't - and how to adapt and evolve new ways to get space.

He was doing a decent job of making himself room and getting off shots.

The biggest detriment in his game that I see is that he shoots too often from poor angles when teammates have better options available. He's going to have to learn to be less myopic.
- Monkeypunk

I only watched a few minutes of the game. Saw Batherson running everyone, and Simmonds ran him and had a chat with him. Batherson didn't even look at him.. That kid should stick to scoring..

Ok, good chat...

So in his media availability, Rielly says that this year he is "going to focus on taking care of himself". This guy is not a happy camper. Management are pissing away our assets.

So in his media availability, Rielly says that this year he is "going to focus on taking care of himself". This guy is not a happy camper. Management are pissing away our assets.
- fifty__missions

I'm not happy about Rielly potentially walking next summer but what options does management have at this point? You can't trade him and expect to be able to find a suitable replacement in the Top 4. You can't afford to pay him 7.5-8M+ going forward.

The lineup is cap crunched because half of it is locked up in 4 forwards with very little room for maneuvering.

I only watched a few minutes of the game. Saw Batherson running everyone, and Simmonds ran him and had a chat with him. Batherson didn't even look at him.. That kid should stick to scoring..

Ok, good chat...
- bixll

Why should he stick to just scoring? He had 9 hits and forced a Leaf to do something about it.

So in his media availability, Rielly says that this year he is "going to focus on taking care of himself". This guy is not a happy camper. Management are pissing away our assets.
- fifty__missions

I'll probably regret these words, but I'm not convinced that losing Morgan Rielly wouldn't be better for us in the long run. I know he's a positive play driver and he adds value. By all metrics he adds value when he's on the ice.

So did Jake Gardiner.

I don't think anyone has missed him on our roster for a single day.

Objectively and honestly, when I think of Morgan Rielly, I think of a defenseman who loses more than 2/3rds of his board battles, doesn't clear the front of the net, doesn't tie up sticks, rarely blocks shots, doesn't hit and doesn't even know how to play a 2 on 1. He's an amazing skater with excellent vision and a great outlet pass with below average shooting.

Geez. I just described Tomas Kaberle. I'm not sure you don't get better overall value by having a more responsible defensive player who can just make smart outlet passes.

That's how I feel. But the reality is also that we might really notice his absence if we don't have anyone else who can drive the play effectively from the backend.

What an exciting game last night. That game made me want to stop watching hockey.

I'll probably regret these words, but I'm not convinced that losing Morgan Rielly wouldn't be better for us in the long run. I know he's a positive play driver and he adds value. By all metrics he adds value when he's on the ice.

So did Jake Gardiner.

I don't think anyone has missed him on our roster for a single day.

Objectively and honestly, when I think of Morgan Rielly, I think of a defenseman who loses more than 2/3rds of his board battles, doesn't clear the front of the net, doesn't tie up sticks, rarely blocks shots, doesn't hit and doesn't even know how to play a 2 on 1. He's an amazing skater with excellent vision and a great outlet pass with below average shooting.

Geez. I just described Tomas Kaberle. I'm not sure you don't get better overall value by having a more responsible defensive player who can just make smart outlet passes.

That's how I feel. But the reality is also that we might really notice his absence if we don't have anyone else who can drive the play effectively from the backend.
- Monkeypunk

He is an asset that should be managed, and not simply lost for nothing. The management approach is (frank)ing awful, and reeks of desperation.

What an exciting game last night. That game made me want to stop watching hockey.
- Archaic

I don’t think that was the point of the game. A bunch of guys got looks. It was interesting to see how they did.

He is an asset that should be managed, and not simply lost for nothing. The management approach is (frank)ing awful, and reeks of desperation.
- fifty__missions

Easy to throw rocks, what is your solution to the issue of Morgan staying or going?

If you are going to female dog about so much, what would you do that is so enlightening ?

He is an asset that should be managed, and not simply lost for nothing. The management approach is (frank)ing awful, and reeks of desperation.
- fifty__missions

He’s an asset that’s being used in the last year of his contract. If they can’t do a deal and there’s a trade for an equivalent left defenceman I’m sure they’ll make it. There probably isn’t so he’ll play out the year according to the terms of his contract. Trading him for picks and/or prospects would be worse asset management.

Why should he stick to just scoring? He had 9 hits and forced a Leaf to do something about it.
- mjones242

Kid is going to get hurt if he continues to play like that.. Run, or punched out... Just my opinion.

He’s an asset that’s being used in the last year of his contract. If they can’t do a deal and there’s a trade for an equivalent left defenceman I’m sure they’ll make it. There probably isn’t so he’ll play out the year according to the terms of his contract. Trading him for picks and/or prospects would be worse asset management.
- Canada Cup

Exactly.

He is an asset that should be managed, and not simply lost for nothing. The management approach is (frank)ing awful, and reeks of desperation.
- fifty__missions

I swear, some of you guys would spend $100 to sell your old TV for $50.

Throwing away the whole season so that we can get a 1st+ for Rielly is a poop trade.

What an exciting game last night. That game made me want to stop watching Sens play hockey.
- Archaic

He is an asset that should be managed, and not simply lost for nothing. The management approach is (frank)ing awful, and reeks of desperation.
- fifty__missions

That's bunk.

What would Lou do? What would Brisbois do?

They would seek to extend him and if they couldn't, they would look for a reasonable deal where they could trade him, but not at the expense of weakening the team _this_ year. So if Morgan Rielly (who I have already stated *I* think we might be better off without) could be flipped for a guy like Jake Muzzin with some term, that would be ideal - but who out there wants one year of Morgan Rielly for a guy they have more than one year of control over who can actually play his position?

If this management team feels that Rielly is going to add value, and they can't find a deal for him, they're not trading him for future assets that we likely won't realize (if ever) for 4-5 years in a complimentary 5-6 or bottom-6 role. Screw that. You can buy those pieces for league minimum.

The Iginla & Jones deals just don't come around very often.

Bottom line is that this management team, who you despise, is doing the same thing that any other management team in the same position would do.

That's bunk.

What would Lou do? What would Brisbois do?

They would seek to extend him and if they couldn't, they would look for a reasonable deal where they could trade him, but not at the expense of weakening the team _this_ year. So if Morgan Rielly (who I have already stated *I* think we might be better off without) could be flipped for a guy like Jake Muzzin with some term, that would be ideal - but who out there wants one year of Morgan Rielly for a guy they have more than one year of control over who can actually play his position?

If this management team feels that Rielly is going to add value, and they can't find a deal for him, they're not trading him for future assets that we likely won't realize (if ever) for 4-5 years in a complimentary 5-6 or bottom-6 role. Screw that. You can buy those pieces for league minimum.

The Iginla & Jones deals just don't come around very often.

Bottom line is that this management team, who you despise, is doing the same thing that any other management team in the same position would do.
- Monkeypunk

It is very rare for a playoff team to trade an expiring contract before the season. Obviously Columbus would trade Jones because they aren't expected to go anywhere this year.

I can think of Boston trading Lucic...That's the only example off the top of my head where a team that made the playoffs in the prior year, and is expected to make the playoffs in the current year traded a significant piece before the season.

I'll probably regret these words, but I'm not convinced that losing Morgan Rielly wouldn't be better for us in the long run. I know he's a positive play driver and he adds value. By all metrics he adds value when he's on the ice.

So did Jake Gardiner.

I don't think anyone has missed him on our roster for a single day.

Objectively and honestly, when I think of Morgan Rielly, I think of a defenseman who loses more than 2/3rds of his board battles, doesn't clear the front of the net, doesn't tie up sticks, rarely blocks shots, doesn't hit and doesn't even know how to play a 2 on 1. He's an amazing skater with excellent vision and a great outlet pass with below average shooting.

Geez. I just described Tomas Kaberle. I'm not sure you don't get better overall value by having a more responsible defensive player who can just make smart outlet passes.

That's how I feel. But the reality is also that we might really notice his absence if we don't have anyone else who can drive the play effectively from the backend.
- Monkeypunk

I like Morgan and agree with the above.
I just dont want to watch him walk him for nothing, but I definitely dont want to see the leafs pay him anything over 6 - 6.5 per either. I dont care that other teams have greatly overpaid their D.

He’s an asset that’s being used in the last year of his contract. If they can’t do a deal and there’s a trade for an equivalent left defenceman I’m sure they’ll make it. There probably isn’t so he’ll play out the year according to the terms of his contract. Trading him for picks and/or prospects would be worse asset management.
- Canada Cup

Trading him for picks and prospects isnt worse asset management if his role could be filled by a other dmen within the team or team. Which understandably we dont know as of yet, but could later this season (maybe Sandin and another player).
There's probably a hockey trade to be made, Morgan for a more defensively responsible dman but who is as offensive. Im just not sure if Dubie is looking for that.
Dunno.

Easy to throw rocks, what is your solution to the issue of Morgan staying or going?

If you are going to female dog about so much, what would you do that is so enlightening ?
- bixll

He should have been traded, or should be traded.

It is very rare for a playoff team to trade an expiring contract before the season. Obviously Columbus would trade Jones because they aren't expected to go anywhere this year.

I can think of Boston trading Lucic...That's the only example off the top of my head where a team that made the playoffs in the prior year, and is expected to make the playoffs in the current year traded a significant piece before the season.
- Leafs43

Boston had just missed the playoffs the year previous. I think they were looking to make some significant changes - notably they moved out Lucic and Hamilton, I believe. I don't know if the changes made them better on paper, but they returned to the playoffs after the moves (edit: I'm mistaken - they missed the playoffs two years in a row, including the season following these moves).

Some teams make the moves when they have the fill-ins coming up in the system. A team like Tampa is prospect-rich because they had been rebuilding for a long time.

To fifty_mission's point, when you reach a point where you have drafted well and your prospects are filling in those gaps, you can reach a point of sustainability where you move out your expiring guys and fill them with youth prospects who have developed. The Leafs aren't there. One argument here is that they rushed the rebuild by grabbing Tavares instead of letting it happen organically and keeping a couple of additional 1sts - I would probably concede to that argument.

At this point, though, you have the assets and you have to put up the best team with what you have, not weaken your position for a lottery ticket (which is what any 20-32 pick is going to be).