Morgan Rielly

[Redleaf]

Is there room on the Leafs roster this season for Morgan, if he really surprises at the main camp next week? I suppose with Franson unsigned, there would be a spot, at least temporarily. He played a solid game one at the rookie tournament. I'd like to see him step it up even more tonight and tomorrow night in London.

My guess is they keep him for the try out period, and send him back to Moosejaw just before they burn the 1st year of his contract. I'm thinking that would also buy the Leafs some time to convince Franson to take a bridge contract. But what if he outplays most of the current D at camp? Tough call for management on this.

http://read.thestar.com/#!/article/52290686ec06915397529f2c

 

[Frank E]

I watched a period of that rookie game on LeafsTV the other night.

Wow, can that kid skate beautifully...I see what they were talking about now.

 

[Redleaf]

I watched a period of that rookie game on LeafsTV the other night.

Wow, can that kid skate beautifully...I see what they were talking about now.

Its his passing abilities that wowed me. If he isnt already, he's going to be one of the best passers in hockey. Tape to tape almost every time. His defensive game needs work, but that should come with time. It looks like the Leafs drafted well with Morgan.

 

[Leafaholic99]

Is there room on the Leafs roster this season for Morgan, if he really surprises at the main camp next week? I suppose with Franson unsigned, there would be a spot, at least temporarily. He played a solid game one at the rookie tournament. I'd like to see him step it up even more tonight and tomorrow night in London.

My guess is they keep him for the try out period, and send him back to Moosejaw just before they burn the 1st year of his contract. I'm thinking that would also buy the Leafs some time to convince Franson to take a bridge contract. But what if he outplays most of the current D at camp? Tough call for management on this.

http://read.thestar.com/#!/article/52290686ec06915397529f2c

With the cap and the roster pretty much full, might have to be sent down to juniors, dont think he is AHL eligible yet. Which won't be bad, hopefully if he is ready they can make it work, but an extra year in junior will only help him refine his game even more.

 

[Redleaf]

Good article on Morgan....

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=431429

 

[Bender]

Wish I could see his style at the rookie tourney. He wasn't bad in the WJC but I bet he's a much better player now.

 

[Redleaf]

Its really early in camp, but he's apparently turning some heads already. I'd say he's already improved his odds of sticking around. I'm guessing he stays in Toronto this year if he continues to impress in the exhibtion games starting tomorrow.....

http://read.thestar.com/?origref=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2Ff5wtCUrJJw#!/article/5234d79ecb007127c93de6af-maple-leafs-morgan-rielly-makes-case-for-defence

 

[Redleaf]

With Franson signing this morning, does anyone think Rielly still finds a spot on the team this year? Nonis sounded like its still a real possibility when asked about it last night. I just don't know how they'll be able to fit him under the cap without a trade going down prior to opening night?

 

[Jalili]

With Franson signing this morning, does anyone think Rielly still finds a spot on the team this year? Nonis sounded like its still a real possibility when asked about it last night. I just don't know how they'll be able to fit him under the cap without a trade going down prior to opening night?

I would rather see him sent down, no question about it.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

With Franson signing this morning, does anyone think Rielly still finds a spot on the team this year? Nonis sounded like its still a real possibility when asked about it last night. I just don't know how they'll be able to fit him under the cap without a trade going down prior to opening night?

If Nonis can find a taker for Liles, I definitely think that Rielly will be a part of the team. It's always been Liles that had to go. I like him as a player, but he's served his purpose for the Leafs and it's time we got that cap space back IMO.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

With Franson signing this morning, does anyone think Rielly still finds a spot on the team this year? Nonis sounded like its still a real possibility when asked about it last night. I just don't know how they'll be able to fit him under the cap without a trade going down prior to opening night?

If Nonis can find a taker for Liles, I definitely think that Rielly will be a part of the team. It's always been Liles that had to go. I like him as a player, but he's served his purpose for the Leafs and it's time we got that cap space back IMO.

Where does he fit?

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Gardiner - Ranger
Fraser - Franson

I'd rather he play big minutes in junior, considering he missed almost a full year to a knee injury, but that's been my position for awhile.

 

[Deebo]

I don't know what they will do cap wise, but some quotes from Nonis last night at an event of season ticket holders suggest that Rielly could be staying:

Dave Feschuk @dfeschuk
The big takeaway from Leafs powwow w/ season-ticket holders tonight: Nonis says Morgan Rielly looks "ready to take a job."

Dave Feschuk @dfeschuk
Nonis said Carlyle needs to be comfortable Rielly can play "12 to 15 min a night" ... "That's something we feel is going to happen." #leafs


Personally, I feel bottom paring ES minutes and 2nd PP time to start could be more beneficial for him than the WHL. We'll see what happens though.

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

Where does he fit?

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Gardiner - Ranger
Fraser - Franson

I'd rather he play big minutes in junior, considering he missed almost a full year to a knee injury, but that's been my position for awhile.

I think I was in that camp at the beginning of this process, but now I think I want what's best for the player and I'm not convinced that he's going to be too challenged in the WHL. His skill set is way beyond junior IMO.

I'm on the fence about whether or not it could hurt him, playing in the WHL, but I feel he'll mature a lot more playing in the NHL, even if it's a limited role. I would like it more this way...

Gunnarsson / Phaneuf
Gardiner / Franson
Rielly / Ranger
Fraser

 

[bustaheims]

I don't know what they will do cap wise, but some quotes from Nonis last night at an event of season ticket holders suggest that Rielly could be staying:

Dave Feschuk @dfeschuk
The big takeaway from Leafs powwow w/ season-ticket holders tonight: Nonis says Morgan Rielly looks "ready to take a job."

Dave Feschuk @dfeschuk
Nonis said Carlyle needs to be comfortable Rielly can play "12 to 15 min a night" ... "That's something we feel is going to happen." #leafs


Personally, I feel bottom paring ES minutes and 2nd PP time to start could be more beneficial for him than the WHL. We'll see what happens though.

That was all before Franson signed. That changed things. As things stand right now, there is neither cap space nor a spot in the lineup for him.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Where does he fit?

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Gardiner - Ranger
Fraser - Franson

I'd rather he play big minutes in junior, considering he missed almost a full year to a knee injury, but that's been my position for awhile.

Carlyle's said all along that Rielly wouldn't play in every single game. And they've also said that they want to bring Ranger along slowly too. So maybe the two alternate for a month or so to get Rielly up to 9 games. I don't think it would be wise to do that all season long though. He'd had to go back to junior after that.

This is really only possible if Liles gets traded though. And Nonis only has a few days to make that happen.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I don't know what they will do cap wise, but some quotes from Nonis last night at an event of season ticket holders suggest that Rielly could be staying:

Dave Feschuk @dfeschuk
The big takeaway from Leafs powwow w/ season-ticket holders tonight: Nonis says Morgan Rielly looks "ready to take a job."

Dave Feschuk @dfeschuk
Nonis said Carlyle needs to be comfortable Rielly can play "12 to 15 min a night" ... "That's something we feel is going to happen." #leafs


Personally, I feel bottom paring ES minutes and 2nd PP time to start could be more beneficial for him than the WHL. We'll see what happens though.

I'm personally in the camp that James Mirtle is in for this piece, and this part especially:

It?s one thing, however, for Rielly to log these kinds of minutes in early preseason games, when teams are using far from their full NHL rosters ? both teams dressed close to the minimum eight veterans in the first two ? and another to consistently play in the Leafs top four (or perhaps five) for an entire 82-game regular season.

And that?s what it would take to justify burning a year of his entry level contract on this season.

For one, as witnessed in the Nazem Kadri situation this off-season, negotiating that second ?bridge? contract for a highly drafted young player isn?t always easy, and a player of Rielly?s potential talent level, after three NHL seasons, is presumably going to be due a considerable raise.

Under his entry level deal, he will make just $925,000 as a base salary, and the really smart move would be to try and ensure that he is as useful (and underpaid) a player as possible in those three years.

Especially if he?s not ready for full time duty just yet.

It?s obviously better, in other words, to have him play for that low cap hit at 20, 21 and 22 than 19, 20 and 21, especially given how few teenage defencemen make a real impact in the NHL. (Only four have hit the 30 point mark in the last eight years.)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/leafs-beat/mirtle-leafs-should-only-keep-rielly-if-he-can-make-an-impact/article14451304/

It's unfortunate, but cap considerations have to come into play as well.

Plus I don't buy that he wouldn't be challenged in junior.  His defensive play still needs work and he'll still get a chance to play in the World Juniors as well.

EDIT: Forgot the link

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Burning a year of his contract is actually my biggest concern at this point. Like Mirtle says, ELC's for top prospects are the most valuable contracts in the league. I would want to maximize that value as much as a I can. And with Franson signed, it's very unlikely that Rielly's play this season would really exceed the value of his contract.

If they want to give him 9 games in October, fine (again, assuming Liles is traded before Monday). If they want to spread out those 9 games until December when they return him to the junior/WJCs, fine. But don't burn a year of that contract.

 

[Kin]

Burning a year of his contract is actually my biggest concern at this point. Like Mirtle says, ELC's for top prospects are the most valuable contracts in the league. I would want to maximize that value as much as a I can. And with Franson signed, it's very unlikely that Rielly's play this season would really exceed the value of his contract.

But doesn't a lot of that concept hinge on a player being able to step in and immediately contribute at a really high level? I have serious doubts that a guy like Rielly, who is probably always going to have defensive issues, is almost certainly going to have a first season where he's learning the ropes. I don't think there's any amount of time in junior or the AHL that's going to lead to Rielly being able to play 22 minutes a night as a rookie if he's not able to do that now.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

But doesn't a lot of that concept hinge on a player being able to step in and immediately contribute at a really high level? I have serious doubts that a guy like Rielly, who is probably always going to have defensive issues, is almost certainly going to have a first season where he's learning the ropes. I don't think there's any amount of time in junior or the AHL that's going to lead to Rielly being able to play 22 minutes a night as a rookie if he's not able to do that now.

If Rielly plays 9 NHL games with the Leafs in October and November, gets sent to the WJC in December, and back to the WHL in January, I don't see how he won't be a better player on October 1st, 2014 than he is right now. I get that playing defence in junior is nowhere close to playing defence in the NHL, but he can still improve his game in the above scenario. Even if it's just from a physical stand point that would go a long way to making his jump to the NHL easier.

 

[Kin]

If Rielly plays 9 NHL games with the Leafs in October and November, gets sent to the WJC in December, and back to the WHL in January, I don't see how he won't be a better player on October 1st, 2014 than he is right now. I get that playing defence in junior is nowhere close to playing defence in the NHL, but he can still improve his game in the above scenario. Even if it's just from a physical stand point that would go a long way to making his jump to the NHL easier.

Ok, but if I'm of the opinion that the best thing for his development is the NHL then couldn't an argument be made that while your scenario has a more valuable Rielly in year one of the ELC, one where he sticks with the big club would see a more valuable Rielly in years two and three?

I mean, I get where you're coming from but I suppose there's a part of me that really feels like the Leafs are so starved for top end talent that focuses 1, 2 and 3 should be turning Rielly into the best player possible and later for cap concerns.