Was Morgan Rielly Really the Maple Leafs Problem After All?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are making major changes to their style of play from last season. However, there is still a sense of doom and gloom for certain players, especially Morgan Rielly. There have been rumours about an effort to move him. Some fans believe he hasn’t made a positive impact. And if you judge only by what has happened over the past couple of seasons, it’s not an entirely wrong take.

Rielly hasn’t been the same guy over the last stretch as he was a couple of seasons ago. He’s made mistakes, his decision-making hasn’t looked as sharp, and it’s been harder to see that offensive spark he used to bring from the back end.

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How Much Does Rielly’s Context Matter to His On-Ice Success?

But is it possible that context matters way more than people want to admit? If the Maple Leafs are bringing in a new coaching voice and a new way to play, then it’s not just “Rielly has to be better.” It’s also “the system has to stop fighting against what makes him good.”

Some styles make certain players look way worse even if they’re still talented. Some styles also protect the weaknesses more than others. So even if Rielly hasn’t looked like himself lately, there’s still a real chance the new style of play the Maple Leafs will adopt could help him regain what made him one of the NHL’s most effective puck-moving defencemen. He still has puck-moving instincts, good timing in the offensive zone, and the confidence to jump into plays.

How Different Was Auston Matthews Last Season?

It’s kind of the same conversation with Auston Matthews. Matthews is Auston Matthews. So when people say he had a down season, it doesn’t mean he forgot how to play. It usually means the team around him didn’t click the way it normally does. Maybe the breakout structure wasn’t helping, maybe the support wasn’t there, maybe the matchup usage wasn’t ideal, or maybe the team just wasn’t creating the same quality chances. A new coach and a reset in how the team plays could give Matthews more space and more opportunities to do what he does best.

So when people discuss trade rumours, salary cap headaches, and the possibility of moving Rielly—perhaps even for nothing—I understand why. But I also think there’s another angle worth considering. What if the real issue wasn’t the player as much as the role and the system? If the Maple Leafs’ new more offensive, puck-moving approach gives Rielly and Matthews the right lane, the “mojo” could return quickly.

Is there a chance that the changes the team will make would fit right into Rielly’s strengths again? And, if the system finally allows Rielly to do what he did best a couple of seasons ago, why would anyone want to move him?

Related: Daniel Alfredsson Makes a Maple Leafs Choice That Hurt Senators