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Toronto Maple Leafs 2012 Draft: Where Are They Now?

By Spencer Teixeira

TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 18: Viktor Loov #55 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the New York Rangers during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on February 18, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Rangers defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 18: Viktor Loov #55 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the New York Rangers during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on February 18, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Rangers defeated the Maple Leafs 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 15: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gets ready to face the Boston Bruins in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – APRIL 15: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gets ready to face the Boston Bruins in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Round 1 Pick 5 – D Morgan Rielly

With the 5th overall pick of the 2012 NHL entry draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected defenseman Morgan Rielly from the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Initially, this was seen as a very risky pick, as Rielly only managed to play 18 games in his draft year. Since this pick, as Brian Burke loves to point out, Rielly is probably the best player to come out of the 2012 draft.

The British Columbia native would spend his Draft+1 year with Moose Jaw, scoring a fantastic 54 points in 60 games. His production can largely be credited to Rielly’s ideal skillset, as described by the Sports Forecaster team,

"“[He has] tremendous [skating] and possesses excellent instincts for the game. At times, he can act as a fourth forward on the ice. [He also] knows how to run a power play effectively. [Rielly can log big minutes]. [Needs to continue] getting stronger physically and prove capable of shutting down [big talents consistently].”"

The two-way dynamo made his NHL debut in 2013-14 season, scoring 27 points in 73 games. Rielly would cement his role in the NHL that season, hitting the ground running and never turning back, scoring 216 points in 397 games since then (0.54 PTS/GP). This excellent run would see Rielly hit a career high 20 goals and 72 points in 2018-19.

Rielly is also a key leader on the Leafs, sporting the ‘A’ for the past three seasons.

It’s safe to say that Rielly was the right pick here.

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