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Toronto Maple Leafs Defenseman Morgan Rielly Is Silencing the Critics

By Jeremy Ridgewell

TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 15: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 15: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against the Boston Bruins at the Scotiabank Arena on November 15, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly , who had four points last night, is having himself a good season. He is silencing his critics while on pace for 66 points.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs best defender reaches that point total, it will be his most successful season since he recorded 72 points in the 2018-19 season. (Stats from hockey-reference.com)

Rielly is currently sitting in 8th place in scoring amongst defensemen. He is just five points back of the leader Adam Fox.  Rielly is also in the top three for points by a Canadian defenseman this season. Could his good start get him a spot on Team Canada for the 2022 Olympics?

It would be an incredible honor for Rielly to represent Canada on the world stage. The Olympics are just two months away, so we should find out soon who will be on Team Canada. One has to think that Rielly is good enough to be one of the eight defensemen Team Canada selects.

As for this season, it is good to see Rielly silencing his haters. He is letting his play do the talking for him. Hopefully, he will continue to play well and have one of the best seasons of his career.

Morgan Rielly Could Retire With The Toronto Maple Leafs

This was a contract year for Rielly, and many did not think the team could re-sign him. Many fans suggested that Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas trade Rielly this past summer. Better to get something for him than let him walk for nothing at the end of this season.

All of that changed in October when the Toronto Maple Leafs announced the re-signing of Rielly to an eight-year contract extension worth $60 million. That will increase Rielly’s salary cap hit from $5 million per season to $7.5 million a season.

If Rielly remains in Toronto for the entire length of his new extension, he will be 35-years-old when it expires. That gives him a real shot at being a Maple Leaf for his whole career. Something not many players have been able to accomplish. His new contract ends after the 2029-30 season, which will be Rielly’s 17th NHL season.

Rielly is playing well and has eight points in his last five games. In Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, he tied a career-best with four points in a single game. He came close a few times in the third period at getting number five but was unsuccessful.

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Rielly and the Toronto Maple Leafs will look to continue their hot start on Thursday, December 9th, against their divisional rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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