Morgan Rielly Edging Closer To Return

He's been on long-term injured reserve with a left knee injury for a month now, but there's some light at the end of the tunnel for Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly. He was actually spotted on skates this morning.

Morgan Rielly is back on the ice. Very light solo work, but it’s a step. pic.twitter.com/dEipDaAQei
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) December 20, 2022

As Luke Fox of Sportsnet reports, the Leafs veteran D-man was doing some light work on his own, not close yet to contact drills, but it's a positive sign nonetheless.

At the time of the injury, the return timeline was posted as 4-to-6 weeks, so he appears to be trending somewhat on schedule. No surgery was needed.

Rielly suffered a sprained MCL when he accidentally collided with the New York Islanders' Kyle Palmieri on Nov. 21st.

The 10-year veteran's importance to Toronto's blueline can't be understated; when he went down, he was the team's leader in ice-time for defenseman with 23 minutes per game, is the point man on the No. 1 power play unit, and led all Leaf blueliners with 16 assists in 20 games.

And while the sight of Rielly on skates is a good one for the Leafs, but it should be taken with caution.

Keefe says Morgan Rielly is still “a ways away” but notes that he’s back skating and looking better every day.
— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) December 20, 2022