On Tuesday, Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly will meet virtually with the NHL Department of Player Safety to discuss his cross-check on Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig.
Originally an in-person hearing before a snowstorm hit the New York City area, this means Rielly could be looking at a suspension of at least six games, which would put the Maple Leafs at a significant disadvantage as they fight for a playoff spot. No other Toronto defenceman comes close to matching Rielly’s overall impact. (Rielly, for instance, averages 1:55 of puck-possession time per game — 38 more seconds than the next closest defenceman, Jake McCabe.)
Rielly is one of the best puck-movers in the league; he averages 25.8 possession-driving plays per game, fifth most among defencemen. Such plays include defensive-zone carry-outs, completed stretch passes and carries over the red line.
Timothy Liljegren is expected to fill in for Rielly on the top pair next to T.J. Brodie. They have shared the ice for 27:10 at 5-on-5 this season, controlling 41.2 per cent of expected goals. By contrast, the Maple Leafs have accounted for 51.3 per cent of the expected goals at 5-on-5 with Rielly and Brodie on the ice.
Liljegren, who told reporters last week that he does not feel on top of his game, has mostly been playing third-pairing minutes, so asking him to handle tougher assignments could lead to trouble.
“At times, there’s (been) some mistakes … but he’s played well for us,” Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said of Liljegren on Monday. “I think anytime, all of a sudden, you’re needed that much more, you think that much less. You just go out and play, and sometimes that can be beneficial to a player.”
At practice Monday, McCabe skated in Rielly’s spot on the top power play unit. It is an interesting choice by Keefe; McCabe has received 7:48 of ice time on the power play all season.
The Maple Leafs rarely stray from the combination of Rielly, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares, which has played together for 91:42 — the most of any power play unit in the league. Those five have been on the ice for 20 of Toronto’s 38 power play goals this season.
Rielly’s absence could expose the Maple Leafs’ lack of depth on defence. It will take a collective effort to replace his contributions.
“We’ve all got to pick up those minutes,” Maple Leafs defenceman Mark Giordano told reporters. “Those are big minutes. He plays in every situation. I keep saying it, he’s been really underrated this year. … The six guys who play (Tuesday), we’ve got to all know that it’s not going to be one guy stepping up and playing (Rielly’s) role. It’s going to be all of us chipping in here and there throughout the game.”
All stats via Sportlogiq
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