Morgan Rielly

At 30 years old, Morgan Rielly has this physical status:

Playing career

Rielly was selected second overall by the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League in 2009 (WHL) Bantam Draft. Rielly played midget hockey for the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox, Saskatchewan, before entering the WHL. Rielly was the top-scoring defenseman in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League in his last season with the Hounds, scoring 55 points in 43 games. His team won the national midget championship in Canada. Rielly played for 64 games and scored 28 points during the 2010–11 WHL season. Rielly was a highly regarded prospect for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft ahead of the 2011–12 WHL season. He sustained a serious knee injury and a fractured anterior cruciate ligament, which required him to miss the bulk of the season. He was back for the Warriors' playoff run against the Edmonton Oil Kings at the tail end of the season. Despite the injury, Rielly ranked fifth among North American skaters by the Central Scout Bureau in fourth place. Rielly was chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, fifth overall, and he signed a hockey contract with the club shortly before the 2012–13 NHL lockout. He spent the 2012–13 season with the Warriors, as well as a stint in January at the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp, but he was then recalled to complete the WHL season.

Rielly made his professional debut with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League in the 2012-2013 season (AHL). Rielly left the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp for the 2013-14 NHL season. He made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on October 5, 2013. Rielly scored his first NHL goal against Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup winner Marc-André Fleury on December 16, 2013.

On February 10, 2015, Rielly scored two goals in his first multigoal game against Cam Talbot of the New York Rangers.

Rielly received a lot of attention from Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock throughout the 2015-2016 season, as well as other management figures. In addition, he will see an increase in ice time, often being ranked in the top pairing for the club. He has also set career records in several offensive categories, including goals, assists, and points. On April 13, 2016, Rielly signed a six-year, $30 million deal, representing an average of $5 million a year. Rielly was one of the Maple Leafs' alternate captains before the 2016–17 season, as well as teammates Tyler Bozak, Leo Komarov, and Matt Hunwick. During a 6–3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on November 11, 2016, he played his first four-point game (1 goal and 3 assists). Nikita Zaitsev, the Leafs' shutdown defense pairing, played in the majority of the 2016-2017 season, scoring 27 points in 76 games. At the end of the 2016–17 season, Rielly was nominated for the Bill Masterton Trophy.

Rielly was hospitalized in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on January 19, 2018, and he was put on injured reserve on January 22. After missing six games, he was back in the Leafs' lineup on February 3, 2018. Despite his injuries, Jake Gardiner, Rielly, and fellow defenceman Jake Gardiner became the first two Leafs defenceman to score at least 50 points in a season since Tomás Kaberle and Bryan McCabe did the feat in 2006–07. He finished the regular season with a career-high 46 assists and 52 points, tying Gardiner for the team's top defenseman, and he helped the Leafs earn their second straight playoff appearance. Despite pushing the Boston Bruins to seven games, the Leafs lost the series in the first round as Rielly finished the playoffs with five points.

Rielly had a career-high four assists in a 7–4 victory over the Dallas Stars, bringing him to ten points in his first four games, tying him for the NHL lead in points alongside teammate Auston Matthews. With 12 points, Rielly led Bobby Orr for the most points by a defenseman in a team's first five games against the Detroit Red Wings on October 11. He made the longest season-opening point streak by a defenseman in franchise history by having an assist in the next game. For the first time in his career, Rielly was named one of the week's Top Talent for the Week on October 14 for the first time in his career. During a four-game Maple Leafs victory streak, he had an NHL-leading six assists and an overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks. For his achievements, he was dubbed the NHL's second star of the week. Rielly played his second four assist game of the season on December 20, beating the Florida Panthers 6–1. He was the first NHL defenseman to reach the 40-point mark this season. Rielly was voted the 2nd star in the NHL's 3 Stars of the Week on December 24, a Rielly vs. Rielly led the Maple Leafs to a spectacular week and second place in the overall league standings for the second week in a row. Rielly became the first Maple Leafs defenseman to post consecutive 50-point seasons since Tomás 2005–06 and 2007–08 seasons. In his 49th personal game of 2018-19, Rielly reached the 50-point mark while skating in his 49th personal game. Borje Salming (42 GP from 1976-77), Babe Pratt (44 GP in 1943-44), and Bryan McCabe (45 GP in 2005-06) are among the few Maple Leafs defencemen to reach the record: two others: Borje Salming (42 GP in 1976-77), Peter Fott (44 GP from 1946-44), and Bryan McCabe (45 GP in 2005-06). On March 16, 2019, the Ottawa Senators scored his 20th goal of the season. Rielly was the first Maple Leafs' defenceman to score 20 goals in a season since Al Iafrate in 1989–90. Rielly ended the season with a career-high 20 goals, 52 assists, and 72 points, the first 70+ point season by a Maple Leafs' defenceman since 1980. He was one of the few defensive players under the age of 25 to score at least 50 points this season, as well as Thomas Chabot and Jacob Trouba.

Rielly signed an eight-year, $60 million contract with the Maple Leafs on October 29, 2021.

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