News: The Maple Leafs will send Reilly back to WHL Moose Jaw, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis:Morgan Rielly, the fifth overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, played for Team Canada in the recent World Junior Hockey Championship, recording a goal and two assists in six games. He'll head back to juniors to hone his craft as a defender, but he's already a blue-chipper in keeper formats thanks to his upside as a puck-mover.
News:Morgan Rielly was paired with Leafs' captain Dion Phaneuf at training camp Wednesday. Coach Randy Carlyle likened it to giving Rielly "the security blanket" of playing with one of the team's best defenders, reports TSN.ca. "I thought he showed flashes of his ability to skate and move the puck."
Analysis:Morgan Rielly acquitted himself well with Phaneuf and even impressed the captain, who told post-game reporters that Rielly plays well beyond his age. Jake Gardiner's injury absence could open the door for Rielly to stick with the big club. He might actually have fantasy value this year.
News:Morgan Rielly has impressed Leafs' coach Randy Carlyle early in training camp, reports Sportsnet.ca. "He's got great vision on the ice," Carlyle said. "If you watch him pass the puck and move the puck, he's got NHL passing skills. You see him up top on the power play, you can see that's one of his strengths."
Analysis: The injury to Jake Gardiner has opened up a window for Morgan Rielly to step in and he's taking that bull by the horns. He struggled with defensive zone coverage and gap control during drills, but that's all but expected for a teenager fresh from junior. At minimum, we expect him to play the five games he's entitled to play before his contract kicks in. It'll be up to him and his coach at that point, but his future is very bright.
