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Elliotte Friedman deems $60,000,000 Maple Leafs D-man undeserving of Team Canada roster spot for 4 Nations Face-Off
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared his views on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly's chances for Team Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. Friedman believes Rielly does not deserve a spot on the team, despite his talent and experience with the Leafs.
During a recent discussion on Sportsnet with fellow analyst Nick Kypreos, they talked about potential players for Team Canada. Kypreos said he questions Rielly's consistency over the last few years.
He stated:
“I just don’t think the consistency has been there the past few years to make him a real contender. There’s no question about his importance to the Maple Leafs; he still needs to be their best defenseman. But when it comes to one specific aspect of his game, you’re just not sure what you’re going to get each night.”
Kypreos pointed out that Rielly's performance can be unpredictable. Friedman agreed with Kypreos:
“Compared to the other guys on the bubble, I just don’t think he’s done enough.”
Rielly signed a big contract with the Maple Leafs in October 2021. His eight-year deal is worth $60 million, with an annual cap hit of $7.5 million.
Rielly has represented Canada before, including at the 2016 World Championship, where he won a gold medal. He has played 803 games, scoring 83 goals and making 395 assists for a total of 478 points. He averages over 22 minutes of ice time per game. Still, his performance in important games raises questions for analysts.
Rielly's career plus-minus is -14, which means he has allowed more goals than he has scored. So, his defensive game certainly has some issues. As the 4 Nations Face-Off approaches, Team Canada’s coaches will consider Rielly’s experience against his recent play.
Maple Leafs lost to the Wild 2-1 in overtime
Morgan Rielly had one shot on goal in 19:11 minutes of ice time as the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Minnesota Wild 2-1 in overtime.
Ryan Hartman scored first for the Wild at 10:19 of the first period. He knocked in a rebound after Frederick Gaudreau's shot hit the post. William Nylander tied the game for the Maple Leafs at 19:08 of the first period. He scored on a power play with a one-timer from a pass by Auston Matthews.
In overtime, Matt Boldy scored the winning goal at 2:14. The Wild won their third straight game with this victory.
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