‘(Jake) McCabe’s Got Experience’: Why Morgan Rielly Is Getting Another New Partner Ahead of Maple Leafs' Matchup With Lightning

The Toronto Maple Leafs held a practice on Monday in preparation for their evening matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and with it came another shake-up on defense.

Morgan Rielly, who has spent much of the past month skating alongside Philippe Myers, found himself paired with Jake McCabe at the morning skate.

As a result, Oliver Ekman-Larsson shifted up to the second pairing alongside Chris Tanev, Simon Benoit was reinserted alongside Conor Timmins, and Jani Hakanpaa occupied the left side beside Myers on the final pair.

Aside from the switch for Rielly, head coach Craig Berube noted that when McCabe was out, Ekman-Larsson and Tanev were solid together, and it made sense to keep that chemistry intact.

“Well, when McCabe was out OEL was playing with Tanev, they were good together. You know, they like playing together,” Berube explained after practice. “And just McCabe played on the right side last year quite a bit for you guys here in Toronto. And, you know, I thought, you know, we're going to try them with Morgan.”

Related: Maple Leafs To See How Jake McCabe Feels Before Making Decision On Status Against Devils, But Signs Mark A Return

Rielly has been on a bit of a rotation at defense this season due to a combination of injuries and the team’s ongoing search for the right chemistry on the back end for the 30-year-old.

After a one-game experiment with Chris Tanev on January 9 against the Carolina Hurricanes as the coaching staff experimented with returning to the early-season pairings, he was re-paired with Myers once again. Before that, he briefly partnered with Conor Timmins in December.

However, McCabe’s return from injury last Thursday seems to have brought a new formula forward, one that Berube wants to explore. McCabe, who had a strong performance against the New Jersey Devils with two assists, five blocked shots, and a plus-three rating, is no stranger to playing on the right side, a role he filled frequently last season with the Leafs.

Related: ‘We Need Some Balance’: Why Morgan Rielly And Chris Tanev Are Reuniting On Defense Ahead Of Maple Leafs' Matchup With Hurricanes

The Leafs are hoping that his defensive game – tough, reliable, and physical – could help complement Rielly’s offensive-minded playstyle and unlock his success from previous seasons.

“And, you know, Morgan's had a lot of partners this year. And it's not his fault or anybody's fault,” Berube explained. “It's just how things go with injuries and guys, you know, finding the right shot guy to play over there. And so, McCabe's got experience. He's a very good player and defender. And so, that's what we're looking for tonight.”

Rielly has yet to find any consistent pairing stability this season.

On Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, he logged just 16:27 of ice time, a season-low for the 12-year defenseman. His previous low came on December 20 against the Buffalo Sabres, where he played 18:25. It’s clear the coaching staff is looking for ways to get Rielly back on track after a slow stretch where the Vancouver, BC, native has just one assist in his last five games.

It doesn’t seem that Rielly himself has been fazed by the constant rotation of partners, as he explained in late December when asked about how it affects his game.

“Yeah, I think my main focus is always on myself,” Rielly said. “And I always am going to strive to be better. And I like to think that I can take on really as much responsibility as I'm given. And I expect myself to be able to handle any situation. So that's kind of the way that I think.”

Related: 'I Expect Myself To Handle Any Situation': Can Morgan Rielly's Struggling Offensive Numbers Be Attributed To Maple Leafs' Constant Defensive Partner Shuffle?

Rielly has just five goals, 16 assists, and 21 points in 47 games played this season. With another change and a fresh look, the Leafs are hoping the new backend can help provide a spark.

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