One Key Stat Signals Career-Best Season Coming for Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly

A lot of flak was thrown towards Morgan Rielly last season considering he wasn't the offensive force that the Maple Leafs needed on their back end.

Expected to be a power play quarterback and help lead the charge from the blueline, he was anything but and saw his role diminished as the season went on.

However towards the end of the season he picked things up, and was a solid contributor in the playoffs. Credit has to be given to Brandon Carlo for coming in at the trade deadline and giving a reliable partner to Rielly, and cover for his defensive shortcomings.

They looked good in a short time together, and with the 2025-26 season in front of them, they get an entire season to find more chemistry and give Toronto a solid Top-4 that can defend, score, and be a nuisance to the opposition.

According to some new stats, that might become a reality sooner than expected.

The duo were able to form a tandem that gave Toronto a much higher expected goals for percentage, with the mix of Carlo's shutdown demeanor and Rielly's newfound freedom to rush the play, that gave the Leafs a distinct advantage.

Carlo was traded for at the deadline in order to give Rielly that defensive partner he's been lacking for years, and the constant swapping of defenders last year made his acquisition necessary; the team needed stability and Carlo provides that.

In 20 games for the Maple Leafs, he added three assists, 38 blocks and 26 hits and a plus-4 rating in 19:13 TOI.

The team did have to part with Fraser Minten in order to get him though, and while that is a bitter pill to swallow for some, defense wins championships and making sure they have their back end solidified is a higher priority than a future prospect.

While Rielly's name was thrown about in trade rumors considering his large contract and the fact Toronto wants to go in a different direction, however the team is better with him, and losing your longest tenured player would hurt the locker room and identity of the team.

Rielly, 31, had 41 points in 82 games for the Leafs this season (7 goals, 34 assists) while having 131 blocks, and a minus-8 rating in 21:23 TOI. He also added seven points in 13 playoff games (4 goals, 3 assists).

Giving Carlo and Rielly a full season together can only benefit the both of them, and if both men can start adding a bunch of points to the offense, it's going to help alleviate some of Mitch Marner's lost scoring.

This year is number thirteen for Rielly in the blue and white; perhaps all that bad luck is going to turn around this year in a wild twist of fate.