"On the ice, Rielly's role has quietly been reduced. Once the focal point of Toronto's offence from the back end, his power-play usage dipped below two minutes per game last season, representing a sharp contrast to his peak years. That drop in opportunity led to an eight-year low in offensive metrics nearly across the board. That, combined with a large contract and aging curve, raises questions about whether he still fits the Leafs' long-term direction,"
"Morgan Rielly has been here since the Maple Leafs selected him fifth overall all the way back at the 2012 NHL Draft several general managers ago. He has remained a somewhat consistent player on the blue line -- with his highs being pretty high and lows still being at the top-four defenseman calibre level -- but now his name has been involved in trade rumours for the last several months."
Toronto plans to pursue trades to improve its Stanley Cup chances and is open to buying when price is right. Morgan Rielly, a fifth-overall pick in 2012, remains a mostly consistent top-four defenseman but has produced highs and lows and has been linked to trade rumours. Rielly carries five years at a $7.5-million AAV contract. His on-ice role has been reduced, power-play minutes fell below two minutes per game last season, and offensive metrics hit eight-year lows. The combination of reduced opportunity, sizable contract cost, and age creates uncertainty about his long-term fit and trade appeal.
Read at Editor In Leaf
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