Rejuvenated, Rebuilt And Experienced; The Maple Leafs Defense Core Will Play A Key Role In Their Playoff Aspirations
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made major roster changes this summer. But the most important factor in Toronto returning to the playoffs next season is the Maple Leafs' defense corps – and one Leafs veteran D-man in particular. How will the new-look Buds defense corps fare next year?
Video Transcript
What are the Maple Leafs maybe looking at in terms of something that would intrigue them to the point of making a deal, and where would we see maybe Rielly being a good fit knowing that he did submit all four teams being on the West Coast?
H- honestly, Katie, I, I don't see a scenario where he gets traded now.
And I, I think- Mm-hmm you know, to trade Morgan Rielly, you're gonna have to, A, probably get a defenseman back or- Mm-hmm get a package that's gonna just make you significantly better.
And- Right I think the thing that the Leafs are wrestling with is to lose Rielly, you know, there's a chance that the Leafs don't get better, and there's a chance that- Mm-hmm a Chris Tanev is injured again this season, and- Right you're looking at a depleted blue line, which really sunk the Maple Leafs last year.
So- Yeah the hope is new head coach, a guy that knows Rielly real well, will come back and get Morgan Rielly back to the player that he was, you know- three, four years ago.
And it's a mighty big if, obviously, but, you know, Rielly is a guy that wants to be in Toronto, loves it here.
He's been through thick and thin.
He was here for the bad years.
He was here for the good years.
And at 32 years old, I still think that there's a lot of defenseman left.
The question is, can he rebound, in Toronto, or are we looking at a guy that, you know, is consistently just getting worse and worse as the years go on?
So, um- Yeah I know that's not the answer to the question you're asking, but I just don't see that trade happening.
Well, it is a no, but I, I mean, if it doesn't feel like it's gonna happen, then that, that's its own answer, and, and that's fine.
You don't need to speculate just for speculation's sake.
Mm-hmm.
But I mean, it is, it is an interesting dilemma.
You bring up a good point, though, with, you know, needing to make sure that their blue line, you know, stays strong with what they already have before they start looking around.
