Morgan Rielly
#44 / Defense / Toronto Maple Leafs
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215 | Born: March 9, 1994
Birthplace: Vancouver, BC. | Drafted: 2012 TOR, 1st round, 5th pick (5th overall)
Career 20-Game Rolling Five-on-Five CF% (via Corsica):
2016-17 Usage Chart (via Corsica):
Why you should know who he is: Morgan Rielly is Toronto’s defensive minute muncher. While his six goals and 27 points aren’t particularly strong offensive numbers, Rielly has the ability to constantly make his presence felt. Iced recently alongside offensive-minded Connor Carrick, Rielly is a smooth skater that is comfortable in his own defensive zone. At just 23, Rielly has kind of fallen under the radar as a talented, young defenseman, but he’s been a staple of this Leafs team for the last four seasons.
How the Caps can stop him: Rielly will have his hands full in this series considering he is going to see heavy doses of action against the Capitals’ top line. Alexander Ovechkin has been playing a particularly physical brand of hockey of late. While Rielly is comfortable with the puck on his stick and an excellent skater, knocking him around may be in the Capitals’ best interest.