Morgan Rielly's Struggles Urges Brad Treliving to Target This Ideal Defenseman to Complete Pairing
Morgan Rielly is in the midst of his worst season ever, and if Toronto wants to make sure they have the best pairings, they should trade for an old friend.
With the Maple Leafs missing out on adding defenseman John Klingberg to the Edmonton Oilers on Friday, Brad Treliving is once again under immense pressure to make some type of move to ensure his team has the best possible roster heading into the playoffs.
Although he would have helped the offense immensely, Klingberg is atrocious defensively, and it's something Toronto can't afford, especially with their new way of playing.
So instead, adding a rough and tumble, low-value but high-reward type shutdown defenseman would give Morgan Rielly a chance to break out of his slump and for the Leafs, one former face could be just the answer.
Luke Schenn Makes It A Hat-Trick To Help Morgan Rielly Once Again
Leave it up to Luke Schenn to come in and turn things around again eh?
It's not his first rodeo, and it feels like the former Maple Leafs draft pick is forever linked to the team and destined to somehow always make his way back.
Schenn came back in 2022 to help Rielly and the two together actually put up some pretty decent numbers defensively, not to mention that the two are both former top draft picks and have been a big part of the team's identity over the last decade and a half.
This season Schenn is on a struggling Predators team that has basically started waving the white flag, and Schenn could be one of the first victims, but that plays right into Toronto's hands.
He is a right-handed shot, hits like a Mack Truck, isn't afraid to put his body on the line, has two Stanley Cup wins, and makes a dirt-cheap $2.75M for this season and the next. His familiarity with the team will make his transition easier, therefore having him make an impact sooner.
This season Schenn only has one goal and one assist, but offense isn't his forte.
He has 58 blocks and 167 hits already just over halfway into the season, and is on pace for over 300 hits.
With the Maple Leafs, he spent five seasons after being drafted fifth overall. For his career with the club he has 15 goals, 61 assists, 958 hits and 531 blocks and will offer the team much of the same even at age-35.
With how badly Toronto needs a shutdown defender on the cheap, Schenn would be a fantastic fit as he was twice before; it just leads one to wonder why Toronto ever got rid of him in the first place.
