Having a glut of NHL-ready defenders on the roster isn’t a bad thing. The Toronto Maple Leafs may appear to have put themselves in a tough situation by keeping Morgan Rielly, but this is the right move as the team progresses through the season.
Toronto has a solid top-six on the blue line right now, and that will be made even stronger once Mark Fraser returns. While Fraser is never going to make an All-Star team, he’s probably the best stay-at-home type that the Leafs can roster on a nightly basis. Otherwise, they are rich in guys that are capable moving the puck forward in a hurry.
Rielly slots in nicely on the second pairing, where he can be kept away from top lines while adjusting and learning the speed of the game on a nightly basis. Rielly and Cody Franson may not send shivers to the toes of the opposition yet, but there could come a day when those two are outstanding and dangerous offensive-defenseman in this league.
Is this a tryout for Rielly to see how he responds to increased pressure? And if he responds well, does that mean the end of Dion Phaneuf’s days as a Leaf? He’s a free agent at the end of the year, and could be looking for more than $7 million across five or six years on his next deal.
If Toronto doesn’t like those terms, they certainly will have the youth and depth necessary to withstand a departure like Phaneuf. Jake Gardiner also figures into the equation here, as does Paul Ranger.
Regardless of how things shake down for the Leafs, keeping Reilly around to learn at the NHL level will only be a positive as he continues to develop his already-outstanding offensive game.