Berube Defends Rielly Amid Leafs’ Woes: ‘It’s Not All on Morgan’
As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to struggle through a rough patch in their season, the focus has often shifted to key players, with much of the spotlight falling on defenseman Morgan Rielly. The Leafs’ defensive corps, already under scrutiny for its inconsistencies, has been a point of contention during the team’s recent slide. However, head coach Craig Berube has come to the defense of Rielly, emphasizing that the blame should not be placed solely on the veteran blueliner’s shoulders.
Rielly, a cornerstone of the Leafs’ blue line for years, has faced heavy criticism from fans and media alike in the wake of Toronto’s recent losses. The team has allowed several high-quality scoring chances and looked disorganized at times defensively, with Rielly’s role in those moments drawing significant attention. Despite being one of the most skilled defensemen on the roster, Rielly’s mistakes have been highlighted in games where the Leafs struggled to close out opponents or failed to hold onto leads.
However, Berube, who joined the Leafs as a defensive coach earlier this season, is adamant that Rielly is not the sole cause of the team’s issues. He pointed out that while Rielly is an integral part of the Leafs’ defense, the struggles are collective and cannot be attributed to one player alone.
“It’s easy to point fingers at one guy, but it’s not all on Morgan,” Berube said in a recent press conference. “We’ve had a lot of breakdowns as a team, and the responsibility doesn’t fall just on one person. Morgan’s a leader on this team, and he’s been a consistent presence for us over the years. But hockey’s a team game, and it’s important that we all look at how we’re playing as a unit.”
Rielly has long been considered the top defenseman for Toronto, known for his skating ability, offensive production, and leadership on the back end. However, as is often the case with high-profile players on struggling teams, Rielly has found himself the subject of intense scrutiny during this downturn. With the Leafs’ defense struggling to contain opposing offenses, questions have arisen about Rielly’s ability to be a true number-one defenseman, especially when compared to other top defenders across the league.
In recent losses, Rielly has been on the ice for key goals against, and his turnovers in critical moments have led to scoring opportunities for opposing teams. Despite this, Berube has stressed that Rielly’s overall game should not be judged solely by these isolated incidents.
“Look, we all know there are moments where we need to clean things up, but we can’t hang it all on Morgan,” Berube continued. “We’re a team, and we win and lose together. Our structure defensively needs to improve, and that’s something we’re working on every day.”
While Berube’s support of Rielly is evident, the pressure on the entire defensive unit remains high. The Leafs’ inability to consistently shut down opposing offenses has been a major storyline throughout the season, and despite their offensive firepower, defensive struggles have prevented the team from truly competing at the highest level.
Moving forward, Rielly and his defensive partners will need to find ways to regain their form. For Rielly, a player who has been through ups and downs in Toronto before, this may be just another challenge to overcome as he continues to mature as a leader on and off the ice. For the Leafs as a whole, Berube’s message of collective responsibility will likely be the key to turning things around.
“It’s about building the right habits and doing it together,” Berube said. “Morgan is doing his part, and we’ll keep working to make sure the team does as well.”
