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Drafting the Current Toronto Maple Leafs Roster In Their Prime

By Jeff Borsuk

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches the action late in the game against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Head coach Sheldon Keefe of the Toronto Maple Leafs watches the action late in the game against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Flames defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs – Morgan Rielly (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Sixth Overall Pick – Morgan Rielly

Morgan Rielly, one of the Leafs  alternate captains, gets selected sixth overall. This is one spot later than the Leafs took him in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The Leafs got the rights to this cornerstone defenseman two slots behind his now teammate Alex Galchenyuk.

Rielly is currently playing in his eighth NHL season, all of which he’s done for the blue and white. The six-foot-one Vancouver, British Columbia native is about as steady as it gets on the blue line. His coaches know day in and day out what to expect and it’s nothing short of being one of the top defensemen on the planet.

Rielly isn’t an overly flashy player but he gets the job done. He uses his speed and puck movement to get down the ice quickly and help set things up in the offensive zone. At times, Rielly even looks like a fourth forward on the ice for the Leafs. He finished the 2018-19 season with an incredible 72 points in 82 games. Rielly finished fifth in voting that season for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s top defenseman. Mark Giordano took the prize home that year.

Rielly is trusted to play big minutes for his club. His career average is close to 22 minutes per game and last year he averaged 24:12. The mobile defenseman gets that time because he does a bit of everything. He will hit, block shots, steal the puck, play on special teams, pick up helpers, and score the odd goal. A player with his skill set would be coveted by every team in the league, which is why Toronto is fortunate to have him.

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