Morgan Rielly focused on team growth after game-winning goal in season opener

Emerging as the hero from the season opener, it’s a welcome start to the season offensively for Rielly. In September, Leafs GM Brad Treliving shared that he had a “real honest chat” with Rielly at the end of last season about rising to the best of his abilities going into this year, and that includes showing up on the scoresheet. Finishing the night with a goal and an assist, things are on track in that department for Rielly. But the veteran said it’s no different for him than what everyone on the team is trying to achieve this season.

“I mean we’re all trying to do it,” he said. “I think I’ve been open and honest about all those conversations, but we’re all trying to build off of what we’re doing and improve off last year. I thought there were lots of guys that did that tonight, and lots of guys who will look to do that as we keep going. So it’s a great first win, but lots to work on.”

Touching on that idea a few times in the press conference, Rielly expanded on the good and bad he saw from the team in their first game back.

“It’s kind of early season stuff,” he said. “It’s our first game. I’m not trying to say we sucked, but we’re gonna look to improve and build our game, we have high expectations for our group. I think at times in the middle of the game we didn’t manage the puck that well, and obviously in the third we came up with a goal, so we’re happy with the result.”

Toronto will take the good, take the bad, and take the win, now set to travel to Detroit to face the Red Wings this Saturday.