Rielly to finally explode offensively?

Morgan Rielly of the Toronto Maple Leafs, drafted 5th overall in 2012, has been groomed by coach Mike Babcock to become the team's number one defenseman, and while he's basically there defensively, it may now be his time to breakout offensively.

In the past couple seasons, Rielly has been mainly assigned tough defensive minutes against the league's best, primarily playing a shut down role on the penalty kill rather than get power play time.

Last season, Rielly hit a career low in points with 27, this in large part due to his lack of power play time. He only had 5 power play points. The key for Babcock was that Rielly become an all-around force - and that meant becoming a reliable shut down defenseman who can also provide a punch offensively. Now that he's rounded out his game defensively, it's time for offense.

The defenseman now finds himself back on the power play along with Jake Gardiner, and appears poised to smash his career high in points (36). Given the strength of the Leafs' power play, which finished 2nd overall last season, giving Reilly the chance to feed pucks to the likes of Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Auston Matthews and the team's other goal-scorers will surely boost his offensive numbers considerably.

Toronto will get even more dangerous without any addition - a simple player reassignment will make them all the more dangerous.