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Luke Schenn | D
Simon Benoit | D
TJ Brodie | D
Carl Dahlstrom | D
Joel Edmundson | D
Morgan Rielly
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Four Defenseman
STRENGTHS
Skating: Rielly is a terrific skater who can create separation from opponents without breaking a sweat. This quality proves especially useful on the breakout, as he can carve through the neutral zone to help the Leafs switch gears from defense to offense. Unsurprisingly, most of his offensive contributions come on the rush.
Passing: The veteran puck-mover can deliver accurate passes in all situations—bombs to stretch out the defense, quick passes through the neutral zone and dishes to teammates in scoring positions. On the attack, he uses his mobility and aggressiveness to generate chaos.
Endurance: Rielly is a workhorse who can log heavy minutes without ever appearing tired. Moreover, he’s quite durable, having suited up for the vast majority of his games as a Leaf. Availability is an underrated trait, and Rielly is always ready to go.
WEAKNESSES
Decision-Making: Rielly’s hockey sense tends to betray him. He continually gambles at the wrong time or starts puck-watching for no apparent reason. Unless he’s granted a ton of time and space, Rielly will commit blunders on a fairly regular basis.
Defense: There are no physical limitations here. Rielly is built solidly and moves well with and without the puck. He simply doesn’t have the toolbox required to defend at a high level. He routinely blows assignments and loses one-on-one battles due to poor positioning and awareness. He isn’t trusted to kill penalties or protect leads.
Shot: For such an assertive offensive blueliner, Rielly isn’t even remotely threatening with his shot. There’s little power behind it and he often hits goaltenders right in the crest on his rush attempts. He often insists on putting himself in situations where he can’t deliver the goods.
