Toronto Maple Leafs: End of Year Report Cards for Defense

Apr 21, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals in game five of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) skates with the puck against the Washington Capitals in game five of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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Morgan Rielly (C+)

I’m a little disappointed in Rielly’s year.

He’s been my favorite Leaf since he was drafted, so it’s possible that I’m being a little hard on him, but he just didn’t perform as well as I would have liked to see.

It was his worst point total since his rookie year and he was a -20 when all was said and done.

Ya, a -20 and he’s supposed to be pretty defensively sound.

He’s actually never been a + player, so that’s just not good.

Not the best year for Rielly, but don’t expect him to get this low of a grade again.

He’ll bounce back.