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Toronto Maple Leafs End of the Season Awards

By James Tanner

UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center John Tavares (91) sets up in front of New York Islanders Goalie Robin Lehner (40) during a game between the New York Islanders and the Calgary Flames on February 26, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY - FEBRUARY 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center John Tavares (91) sets up in front of New York Islanders Goalie Robin Lehner (40) during a game between the New York Islanders and the Calgary Flames on February 26, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 12: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with teammates Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 12: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates with teammates Nazem Kadri #43 and Morgan Rielly #44 after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on February 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Best Defenseman

This is no contest – Morgan Rielly has been the best defenseman on the Toronto Maple Leafs, and in the NHL.

Now, I can’t tell you that Morgan Rielly is the best defenseman in the NHL from a talent perspective, or that he’ll be the best next year – but he’s been the best this year.  Since Erik Karlsson got injured, the field has been wide open, and Rielly has earned it.

I really hope the writers don’t screw this up, because Rielly should be an absolute lock to bring the award home to Toronto for the first time ever.

He is at, or near the top, of the rankings among NHL defenseman in goals, points, even strength points and goals, and points/60.  (all stats naturalhattrick.com).

I wrote a detailed analysis of Rielly’s competition here.  He’s got a pretty solid case – he’s got pedigree, he’s got a history of being amazing (last year only he and Doughty and Hedman finished with 50 points and a positive possession rating while facing top competition), and he’s done it all while dragging around 37 year old Ron Hainsey who has no business on the top line.

It’s mind boggling to consider what his numbers would be like if he had a quality partner like all of his Norris competitors do.

Rielly should win the Norris, but he is hands down the best defenseman on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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