Toronto Maple Leafs forced to make change involving Morgan Rielly
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has had his fair share of struggles this season, but it appears as though he is getting a promotion.
The Toronto Maple Leafs do not have an easy game tonight as they are taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning in what will be an Atlantic Division grudge match.
With the Leafs looking to get into a playoff spot, head coach Craig Berube is doing everything he can to get this team back in a good place.
This means there were some lineup changes tonight, including a healthy scratch for Nick Robertson, who deserves to be playing.
Toronto Maple Leafs add Morgan Rielly to the power play
Meanwhile, the team's power play has been abysmal at just 14.1 percent for the season. This has been a major issue, although it appears as though a solution has been found.
For weeks, the team was going with five forwards, but this clearly is not working. As a result, Morgan Rielly is being added back to the power play as the quarterback.
The rest of the power play will consist of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and John Tavares.
Rielly has 21 points in 27 games this season, which makes him one of the better offensive defenseman in the league right now.
This is good news for the Leafs, as Rielly had a down year during the 2024-25 campaign, and some felt like he needed to be traded.
Whether or not this set up actually works for the Maple Leafs tonight, is something that still very much remains to be seen.
Toronto Maple Leafs lineup against the Tampa Bay Lightning
Knies-Matthews-Domi
Cowan-Tavares-Nylander
Joshua-Roy-McMann
Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok
Cowan-Tavares-Nylander
Joshua-Roy-McMann
Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok
Rielly-OEL
McCabe-Stecher
Benoit-Mermis
McCabe-Stecher
Benoit-Mermis
Hildeby
Akhtyamov
Akhtyamov
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 8 | 588 ANSWERS Toronto Maple Leafs forced to make change involving Morgan Rielly Do you believe Morgan Rielly is ready for the Toronto Maple Leafs power play? | ||
| YES | 371 | 63.1 % |
| NO | 217 | 36.9 % |
| List of polls | ||