Morgan Rielly Exits Early with Injury as Leafs’ Slide Continues
Saturday night in Vancouver brought more than just another frustrating result for the Toronto Maple Leafs - it also delivered a potentially significant blow to their blue line. Veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly was ruled out at the start of the third period with an upper-body injury and did not return.
The team hasn’t disclosed when or how the injury occurred, and details remain scarce. What we do know: Rielly logged 12:34 of ice time over 19 shifts before exiting. He was credited with a blocked shot and was on the ice for both of the Canucks’ goals in the first two periods.
It’s a tough break for a player who’s been a fixture on Toronto’s back end for over a decade, and whose season - much like the team’s - has been a mixed bag. Offensively, Rielly has shown flashes of the puck-moving defenseman Leafs fans have long relied on.
With seven goals and 24 assists through 54 games, his 31 points already eclipse last season’s pace. But defensively, it’s been a different story.
His minus-17 rating reflects some of the struggles in his own zone, and those numbers don’t always tell the full story - but in this case, they’re in line with what’s been visible on the ice.
Rielly’s minutes remain heavy - north of 21 per game - and that workload hasn’t slowed down despite the team’s defensive issues. But with the Leafs mired in a six-game losing streak heading into Saturday’s matchup, including a winless five-game homestand at Scotiabank Arena, the frustration is mounting. And Rielly, as one of the team’s longest-tenured and most visible players, is catching more heat than usual.
The timing of his injury couldn’t be worse. The Leafs are slipping further out of playoff position, and with the Olympic break and trade deadline approaching, questions are swirling about whether the front office might pivot toward selling. If Rielly is out for any extended stretch, it only adds to the uncertainty.
Now in his 13th NHL season - all with Toronto - Rielly has been a steady presence since being drafted fifth overall. He’s skated in 927 regular-season games, tallying 94 goals and 450 assists for 544 points. In the playoffs, he’s added 47 points in 70 appearances.
A native of Vancouver, Rielly’s return to his hometown was supposed to be another chance to help right the ship. Instead, it ended early - and left the Leafs with even more questions as their season teeters on the edge.