Morgan Rielly: Is this the last dance?

Over the past 12 years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have made many attempts to reach the Stanley Cup. Morgan Rielly has bled blue and white for those 12 years. He was there in that famous 2013 Game 7 choke, having a 4–1 lead against the Boston Bruins. He’s been there for the rebuild as the Leafs drafted the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander.

But his game has been on the decline for a couple of years now, and he’s hitting the age where he might slow down. So, could this be his last dance? Let’s discuss.

Rielly’s history

Rielly entered the league as a smooth-skating defenceman with elite offensive instincts, but he’s had to endure some of the most frustrating playoff collapses in team history. From the 2017 loss to the Washington Capitals, to back-to-back Game 7 heartbreakers against the Bruins, to the bubble disappointment against Columbus, it’s safe to say Rielly has seen the Leafs stumble at every stage of their supposed rise.

Even as the roster got deeper and the stars emerged, the story remained the same. The 2021 meltdown against Montreal and the 2022 and 2023 heartbreaks against Tampa Bay and Florida were all chapters in a story that Leafs fans know all too well. Through it all, Rielly has remained one of the few constants, wearing his heart on his sleeve and facing the cameras after every loss.

Morgan Rielly has been on this team for over a decade, and many fans have had enough. In the 2018–19 season, he exploded with 72 points, a career best. Since then, he has not been able to put up those numbers except in 2021–22, when he reached 68. Rielly is getting the most slack from last year, with only 41 points in 82 games.

With that drop-off in points being very significant and paired with many early playoff exits, it has reignited the debate among fans and media alike: Is Rielly the right man to lead this defensive corps? 

Leadership and legacy

Beyond his stats, Rielly’s leadership has become one of his defining traits, as he’s worn the letter “A” for many years, serving as a bridge between the Leafs’ young core and their coaching staff. Many of his teammates often speak about his professionalism and positivity, even through the tough moments in the playoffs. 

In an intense market such as Toronto, where every bad game becomes a headline, Rielly has remained steady in his leadership role. 

Pressure from the top

This summer, it’s been well known that Brad Treliving had a heartfelt conversation with Rielly about his expectations for this season. This stuck with Rielly. If he doesn’t play well, this might be the last time we see Rielly in a Leafs uniform.

During training camp, Rielly looked very strong and ready to go according to newcomer Nicolas Roy, who had this to say about his fellow teammate: “Morgan Rielly’s been buzzing in those skates,” Roy said. “I wasn’t there before. I’ve seen him and played against him, and he’s been a really good player.” 

This is a positive sign for Leafs fans heading into this season, as Rielly needs to step up and quarterback a high-skill-level power play. In his first game of this season, he scored the game-winning goal against the Canadiens in their home opener last Wednesday. Consistency is key for the Leafs’ blue liner to have a successful season.

Rielly has a lot to prove to his haters across different fan bases and his own team’s fan base. A hungry version of Rielly, we feel, is on the horizon, wanting to prove the haters wrong and live out his career as a Leaf. He needs to return to his 2018 self, scoring over 60 points, for both the team’s success and his own. 

If the Maple Leafs want to win the Stanley Cup, they need that high-calibre defenceman, as we’ve seen most teams have. With the likes of Cale Makar in Colorado, Victor Hedman in Tampa Bay, and Seth Jones in Florida, Morgan Rielly has to be at that level for the Leafs to win, as those players proved it with their respective teams.

What can fans expect?

Based on the training camp and words around the organization being spread, Rielly is poised to have a fantastic year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and with that, who knows where the Maple Leafs will finish, and who knows what they can achieve in the postseason? 

Morgan Rielly’s story with the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of loyalty, longevity, and sadly, heartbreak. He has been there through all the franchise’s pains, the player who stayed when others left and the one who believed when others stopped.

Whether this season becomes his redemption or is his farewell will depend on how he responds to the pressure. The future of Morgan Rielly lies in his own hands, as he can determine what happens next with himself and the Toronto Maple Leafs.