A RIELLY GOOD PERSPECTIVE
After a few Leafs and head coach Sheldon Keefe repeated their contention they are “close”, “right there” and other cliches of an imminent Cup breakthrough, veteran defenceman and alternate captain Morgan Rielly offered this on the end of a truncated season:
“It’s always difficult, this year maybe more than ever. Partly because of (losing) in overtime, partly me being on the ice for the (winning) goal, partly it’s age (he’s now 30). Every year gets more challenging.
“I don’t want to stand here and tell you that we’re on the doorstep of anything. Because we’re sitting here doing this today. But the belief is there that it’s attainable. How close are we? We’ll see. It feels both attainable and a way’s away. That’s what drives you as an individual and the team forward.”