Former Leafs GM Brad Treliving on Morgan Rielly's future: "Who knows what the future holds, but sometimes, a change is good for everybody, right?"

John Tavares has been effective playing left wing at the World Championships, with strong skating even on big ice. Team Canada’s forward group includes many natural centers, so someone must take on wall and wing responsibilities. Tavares has previously played wing during Toronto playoff runs, and the idea has been discussed by staff over time. He has been producing consistently, scoring in every game, and providing leadership and influence for younger players. The wing role can reduce defensive responsibility, which may make it a viable option when he returns to Toronto. Morgan Rielly’s future is framed around remaining ability despite long tenure and the weight of responsibility in Toronto.

"Well, he has been really good. In a lot of these tournaments, as we've seen with Team Canada, there are a lot of centers. Of our 14 forwards, I think we have 11 natural centers. Somebody has to go to the wall. If you remember, in the year before I got to Toronto, in the playoffs when Ryan O'Reilly was obtained, John played a little bit of wing that year in the playoffs. It is something we talked about as a staff over the last year and a half."

"He has been really good. Even on the big ice, John is moving well. He is playing with Ryan O'Reilly, and there has been some chemistry there. I think John has scored in every game. He has been a leader and a big influence on a lot of these young guys. It is something. There is less responsibility, if you will, defensively. It might be something that, when he gets back to Toronto and carries on, they look at, because he has been really good."

"Morgan Rielly is a player you know very well from your Leaf days. There has been a lot of conversation about what he has left in the tank for the rest of his career. How do you answer that question, as far as what Rielly can still do for whatever team he plays on? Treliving: I still think there is a lot of game there. It is something Morgan and I talked a lot about when we were together."

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