Shocking Stats Reveal Maple Leafs' Best Defenseman Isn't Morgan Rielly
Morgan Rielly has been Toronto's longest tenured defender and been their anchor for over a decade, but a relatively new face has emerged as the true blueline star.
Having been through some of the best and worst times to be a Maple Leaf, one thing has always remained a constant: Morgan Rielly. The team's fifth overall pick in 2012 has been one of the team's best players ever since, and did his best dealing with a rotating group of defense partners.
But this season has been one of the rougher ones for Rielly, and although he's been decent, it's not to the level fans expect and it doesn't even start to sniff his eight-year, $60M contract extension as his performance starts to stagnate.
Luckily for the Maple Leafs though, one defenseman has emerged as not only one of the team's most consistent players, but he's become even better than Rielly.
Jake McCabe Is A Better Overall Defenseman Than Morgan Rielly
The role of a defenseman in hockey is fairly simple. Disrupt opponents, prevent shots, throw hits, and play smart. Jake McCabe does all of that at an elite level, and then some.
McCabe is a shot-blocking nightmare, never putting his body above the play and laying out regardless of situation. Deceptively fast, he sneaks up and delivers bone-crunching hits and has a knack for swarming the net and keeping opponents at bay.
But what about offense you might ask? McCabe has only one goal but has 12 assists, and only eight points off of Reilly for the team lead and his defense often leads to breakout rushes and better scoring chances for Toronto.
This season, in addition to the 13 points, McCabe has 74 hits, 77 blocks, and a plus-15, and his analytics show that Toronto controls the puck more, and gives up less high danger chances at 5 on 5; where the majority of hockey is played.
Rielly for what it's worth isn't a terrible defenseman by any means, but his offensive-leaning skillset has to start producing more to make up for his defensive shortcomings.
He has 67 blocks, but a measly 18 hits. Rielly isn't known for throwing huge checks however averages 77 per 82-games; he's been way less aggressive.
His 21 points this season leads all defenders however it comes attached with an atrocious minus-14, he's taking more penalties and also playing the least amount of minutes on average since his 2014-15 season.
Expected to be a power play demon, Rielly has quieted down this season and his recent demotion due to his lack of production won't help things. The team is worse at 5 on 5 with him on the ice, and Toronto really doesn't trust him in their own end, only lining up 39.8% of the time at even strength.
The fact Toronto acquired McCabe for pennies on the dollar, and recently signed him to a very team friendly five-year, $22.57M extension shows the faith the Leafs have in him and he's deserved it.
Rielly's contract however looks more and more bloated the less he scores and provides what the team needs, and if things don't change soon it could start being McCabe's team instead.
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