Morgan Rielly faces a career-defining Maple Leafs season after Darren Raddysh changed his role

Carlo Colaiacovo believes Morgan Rielly can rewrite his legacy in Toronto by becoming a complement to the lineup and becoming a clutch postseason performer.

Colaiacovo was speaking on his show TSN First Up on Monday and talked a bit about Morgan Rielly's role with the Maple Leafs, and explained how Rielly can still be beloved in Toronto despite criticism - so long as he pulls it together in the postseason:

If Morgan Rielly is playing at that level with Darren Raddysh, and hopefully a healthy Chris Tanev - that would change the whole arithmetic of how we view the Maple Leafs. If he could be a guy who has starring moments in the postseason, this city would love it! The legacy would completely change.

Rielly has consistently produced in the playoffs, with 47 points in 70 games, including 10 goals, 32 assists and two game-winning goals. He has also posted a plus-12 rating over that span.

Darren Raddysh removes the biggest reason Toronto once needed Morgan Rielly

But Toronto decided that Rielly wasn't the answer to help lead them in 2026-27, as they acquired Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning after a 22-goal, 70-point breakout season that included 10 power-play goals. He's is expected to take over the top power-play role, meaning Rielly no longer has to carry the same offensive responsibility he once did.

Rielly on the other hand only had 36 points in 78 games while also managing a rough minus-18 rating while only managing only six points altogether on the power-play; a stark contrast to the level of production that Raddysh put up.

That led to a lot of fans and analysts speculating that the Maple Leafs were now going to move on from Rielly - something that Colaiacovo believes would be a big mistake:

He's a flawed player, but he is a very good defenceman for the Maple Leafs, just kind of miscast. You know it's like Dion Phaneuf, like Phil Kessel. One of these days you gotta realize these were good hockey players. Not great, but good with a capital 'G'.

You don't just get rid of a good hockey player for the sake of getting rid of him. The organization has expected him to be a #1 defenceman and he's not. He's a 3, 4, 5, 6 guy. But you can't expect a really good guy to be your #1.

Colaiacovo has a point, and Rielly can still be effective so long as he isn't a #1. But he will have to prove to the team that now he isn't their de facto first option that he can be a great secondary option or even a 1B next to Raddysh.

Morgan Rielly can rewrite his legacy even if he isn't a #1 defenceman

But Toronto hasn't had a choice for the last 12 years, as they made Rielly the forefront of the blueline and continued to ride that train until this summer. Raddysh isn't an experiment either, as he's here for the next eight years so the Maple Leafs made that decision knowing Rielly wasn't going to be their #1 going forward.

But that doesn't mean Rielly can't finish off his time here strong. He's only 49 games away from reaching the coveted 1,000 regular season game mark - and he did it with one team only which is even more impressive.

Raddysh's arrival gives Toronto a chance to use Rielly differently rather than simply use him less. If Rielly can handle secondary offensive minutes, contribute at five-on-five and remain the playoff performer he has often been, the Leafs may finally be asking him to fill a role closer to his actual strengths.

There's no reason to dish off Rielly just yet, unless a can't miss trade comes around. He has a chance to add to his already decade-long plus tenure with Toronto by not only reaching an important milestone but being an important piece that no longer needs to lead.

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