- Carlo Colaiacovo says the Maple Leafs have miscast Morgan Rielly as a No. 1 defenseman
- Rielly is entering year five of an eight-year, $60 million deal at a $7.5 million cap hit
- Read below for what Colaiacovo said about why a Rielly trade never came together
Carlo Colaiacovo is not piling on Morgan Rielly. He is piling on the Maple Leafs.
Colaiacovo, who spent parts of six seasons on Toronto’s blue line before moving to broadcasting, was asked Monday morning on TSN 1050’s First Up about Rielly’s outlook this season and why a trade never came together. He said the fan base is aiming at the wrong target.
“I’ve defended Morgan Rielly to some of the people in the public where, you know, they’re adamant that they have to get rid of him. You don’t just get rid of a good hockey player for the sake of getting rid of him.”
He then pointed at the job description Toronto handed him.
“The reason why people feel the way they do about Morgan Rielly is because this organization has expected him to be a number one defenseman for the last two or three seasons, and he’s just… he’s not fit to be that guy. Morgan Rielly as your three, four, five, six defenseman? That’s a really good defenseman! You can’t expect him to be your number one guy.”
Watch the full segment:
Rielly is heading into year five of the eight-year, $60 million extension he signed in Toronto. The cap hit is $7.5 million, and four seasons remain on it counting this one.
Last season gave the critics plenty to work with. He put up 36 points in 78 games, with 11 goals and 25 assists, and he still averaged 21:08 a night. Those are his fewest points over a full season since 2016-17.
His name has been in circulation since the spring. Rielly submitted a trade list weighted toward the Western Conference in June, and Philadelphia poked around during free agency. General manager John Chayka called him a big part of the group in July, and the full no-movement clause in the contract gives Rielly the final say anyway.
The club has not exactly buried him, either. Toronto’s countdown post on Saturday ran his No. 44 alongside his nickname:
Rielly turns 33 in March and has played all 951 of his NHL games in one uniform. Where he slots into the pairings on opening night is the part Colaiacovo wants the Leafs to finally get right.
