Morgan Rielly’s Defensive Struggles Are Testing the Leafs’ Patience - and Their Depth
The 2025-26 season was supposed to be a reset button for Morgan Rielly. A chance to remind everyone in Toronto-and across the league-that he’s still capable of anchoring a top defensive pairing, quarterbacking the power play, and holding his own in the defensive zone.
But nearly 50 games in, the picture is a little murkier. The offensive instincts are still there, but the defensive lapses are becoming harder to ignore, and frustration is starting to bubble up across Leafs Nation.
Let’s be clear: Rielly’s not without his moments. He’s shown flashes of the dynamic puck-mover fans have grown accustomed to over the years.
But too often, he’s on the ice when the puck ends up behind his own goalie-and more often than not, it’s his man doing the damage. Whether it’s losing a battle along the boards or getting walked in open ice, the breakdowns are piling up.
And the eye test isn’t the only thing raising eyebrows. Rielly is sitting on a team-worst -14 rating through 48 games, despite putting up 29 points (six goals, 23 assists). That kind of stat line paints a clear picture: the offense is still serviceable, but it’s being offset-sometimes completely undone-by what’s happening in his own zone.
That’s led to a growing conversation about his role, and just how much leash he’s getting. Former Leaf and current analyst Jay Rosehill didn’t hold back in a recent critique, suggesting that if you stripped away the name and the number, Rielly’s play wouldn’t justify a spot in the lineup.
“He’s got the longest leash in the world,” Rosehill said. “The mistakes, the exposure, the decision-making-it gets to a point where you ask if they’re better off with him not playing some nights, because he’s a detriment at times.”
That’s a sharp comment, but it speaks to the broader issue: Rielly’s status as a longtime core piece might be shielding him from consequences others on the roster would face. As Rosehill pointed out, if a depth guy like Simon Benoit made the same mistakes, he’d be stapled to the bench-or worse, the press box.
The reality is, Rielly is in year four of an eight-year, $60 million deal that comes with a full no-movement clause. So even if the organization wanted to make a drastic change, their hands are tied.
A mid-season trade? Highly unlikely.
A healthy scratch? That’s a nuclear option, and one the team doesn’t appear close to considering.
So what can the Maple Leafs do?
In the short term, the most practical move might be to reduce Rielly’s workload-cut back on the tough minutes, especially in defensive-zone starts, and look for ways to shelter him without completely neutering his offensive impact. But that requires someone else to step up and take on more responsibility, and that’s where things get tricky.
Toronto’s blue line depth is already thin, and cap space is at a premium. Still, all signs point to GM Brad Treliving working the phones in search of help on the back end. The Leafs know they need reinforcements, and the fact that they’re actively looking suggests the front office is well aware of the cracks forming in their defensive foundation.
This isn’t about scapegoating Rielly. He’s been a loyal soldier for the franchise, a key figure in their recent playoff pushes, and a respected voice in the room. But the NHL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league, and right now, the Leafs need more from their No. 1 defenseman-more consistency, more sound decision-making, and fewer nights where he looks overwhelmed in his own zone.
If Toronto has real aspirations of making noise in the postseason, they’ll need to find a way to either get Rielly back on track or find someone who can help carry the load. Because right now, the margin for error is too thin, and the blue line too vulnerable, for anything less.