Toronto Maple Leafs: Comparing Past & Present Stars

The Toronto Maple Leafs Bryan McCabe may have retired back in 2010-11, but the Leafs have a similar player to their former star defenseman…Morgan Rielly.

Bryan McCabe joined the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 2nd, 2000 after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for Alexander Karpovtsev and a 2001 4th round pick (Vladimir Gusev). Before being traded to the Leafs, McCabe was producing around 25 points per season which is very similar to Morgan Rielly, who was drafted by Toronto 5th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Similarity #1: Slow Start but a lot of Promise

McCabe entered the NHL during the 1995-96 season, producing 23 points (7 goals and 16 assists) in 82 games. For the next six seasons, McCabe would not surpass 29 points. However, in 2001-02, McCabe finally had his breakout season, scoring 17 goals and assisting on 26 others for a total of 43 points in 82 games. In 2005-06 (11 seasons into his career), McCabe produced 19 goals and 49 assists for 68 points (all career highs) in 73 games.

In comparison, Rielly has played for 4 years in the NHL and has never surpassed 36 points (9 goals and 27 assists, all career highs). While some fans are getting a little worried, there is no need to. Some players breakout later than others. It took McCabe 8 seasons to crack 40 points and 11 seasons to get past 60.

Morgan Rielly has shown his potential at times and just needs more consistency to become a threat in the NHL. He showed what he was capable of during the 2016-17 playoffs when he produced five points in six games, tied for the team lead with young phenom, Auston Matthews.

Similarity #2: Strong Two-Way Game

Bryan McCabe may be remembered for shooting the puck into his own net in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres, but  he was a very strong player in front of his own net. Known for getting rough with players – you don’t get 1732 penalty minutes in 1135 games for being nice – McCabe was not a fun player to play against.

Meanwhile, Rielly may not be as rough, but he will use his stick and body to stop as many shots as he can from reaching the net. As one of the fastest skaters in the league, Rielly is able to rush with the offense and still get back into position when needed.

While they may be different players in how they protect the net, they are very similar in the regard that they will do anything they can to keep the puck out of the cage and help their team win.

Similarity #3: Leadership Qualities

Bryan McCabe was seen as a leader since juniors and it did not go unnoticed. As a 22 year old, McCabe was named team captain by the New York Islanders in 1997 (before trading him in the same season to the Vancouver Canucks). He was also an assistant captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs for seven seasons and the captain of the Florida Panthers for three seasons. McCabe was a voice in the locker room that others trusted.

Morgan Rielly is very similar in this sense. While he’s never been a captain, he was the assistant captain of the Leafs for the 2016-17 season, as a 23 year old, and has been a mentor to the younger players.. Plus, he has helped Nikita Zaitsev, signed by Toronto during the 2016 offseason, get comfortable in North America on and off the ice.

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Both players are vocal in the locker room and have leadership qualities. Both were put into leadership roles with their teams at a young age and excelled with the responsibility.

Conclusion:

Bryan McCabe became a very good defenseman, and if Morgan Rielly can become what McCabe was then the Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot to look forward to.

Both McCabe and Rielly had slow starts to their career, but McCabe was able to breakout and I believe Morgan Rielly will do the same during the 2017-18 NHL season.  Keep in mind, during his NHL career, Morgan Rielly has never had a capable partner. His most common partners over the course of his career are Polak, Hunwick and Zaitsev.  A better partner will go a long way in helping him realize his potential.

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McCabe had a physical two way game while Rielly uses his strong skating to his advantage, giving both of them strong offensive and defensive games. Lastly, from juniors all the way to the NHL, both players are leaders on and off the ice.

stats from hockeydb.com