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Toronto Maple Leafs: 1st Rounders Through the Years vol. 4

By Bruce Harte Ashley

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Auston Matthews poses for a photo with team officials after being selected as the number one overall draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
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 /

Morgan Rielly

After the disastrous 2010 and 2011 seasons and the drafts that followed, the Leafs retained their first round pick for 2012. They drafted Morgan Rielly with the 5th overall pick.

Rielly started his draft eligible season on fire. To begin 2011-12, he scored three goals and added 15 helpers and was plus-six in 18 games. A torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered Nov. 6.  ended the Moose Jaw Warriors season. The following year, his D +1, Rielly scored 12 goals, added 42 assists for 54 points in 60 games. After a strong training camp to begin the 2013-14 season, Rielly made the team as a 20-year-old.

"Rielly was the top offensive defenseman in the 2012 draft class, and one of the WHL’s top defencemen in 2013.  His skating, passing, and puck skills are all top-notch, and he puts those skills to good use.  Rielly has the look of a future power-play quarterback and puck-rushing defenseman.  He’ll need to work on his defensive game, www.hockeysfuture.com"

Arguably the top offensive defenceman in the draft, Rielly is considered to be the Leafs future number one d-man. In my opinion, the Hockeys Future prospect report was bang on. His skating is elite. His vision is elite. Though he must continue to work on his shot speed, his accuracy is good while his ability to get the puck through traffic creates rebounds. Even so, Mike Babcock has forced him to work on the defensive side of his game. The past two seasons, Rielly has lined up as a top pairing defender for the Leafs. Based on QoC, Rielly played some of the most difficult minutes in the NHL. While he continues as a work in progress, Rielly’s future is bright with the Leafs.

While Rielly’s offensive numbers slipped last season, please note that he is only 23. Already a four-year veteran of 312 games, he has spent the better part of those games skating for a bad team. When not playing for a bad team, he was playing for a worse team. All things considered, while playing for a bad team, he was also playing for a coach with brutal systems.

In addition, his partner for the season was Nikita Zaitsev, a 24-year-old rookie learning the North American game. All things considered, Rielly had a good season and I expect better from the 23-year-old in the 2017-18 season.

The Leafs picks from 2010 onwards → Ross, Biggs, Percy and Rielly.

The Leafs could have had → Seguin, Hamilton, Rakell and Rielly

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