Tip of the Tower
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Toronto Maple Leafs: 4 genuine contenders for end of season awards

By Paul Taylor

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 26: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates setting up teammate Igor Ozhiganov #92 for his 1st NHL goal against the Boston Bruins at Scotiabank Arena on November 26, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 26: Mitchell Marner #16 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates setting up teammate Igor Ozhiganov #92 for his 1st NHL goal against the Boston Bruins at Scotiabank Arena on November 26, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 18: Morgan Rielly #44 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 18, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Penguins defeated the Maple Leafs 3-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

2) Morgan Rielly

Contender for: James Norris Memorial Trophy

Previous Leafs winners: 

None

No Leafs player has ever won the James Norris Memorial Trophy. That could finally change this season, thanks to Morgan Rielly.

The award is decided based on “the defence player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position”. This describes Rielly’s play perfectly.

As we already mentioned while discussing Andersen, the Leafs’ achilles heel is their blue line. However, Rielly is the one defenceman this definitively doesn’t applies to.

Blessed with excellent talent, instincts and mobility, the 24-year-old is easily having the best season of his six-year career to this point. He leads the team in average ice time by logging big minutes; a necessity given the aforementioned issues with the blue line.

Rielly has developed into a true leader and is the one blue liner Andersen can count on. (The duo are a major reason why the Leafs have allowed the sixth-fewest goals entering Dec. 7.) And for what it’s worth — given the ongoing debates about the statistic — his plus/minus rating of +14 is third on the team and on course to be the best of his career.

On top of all this, there is the not so small matter of the Vancouver native’s scoring. He is third on the team with 31 points (nine goals and 22 assists), which is also tied for first among all NHL defencemen.

Of course, there will be tremendous competition for the James Norris Memorial Trophy this season. However, as long as Rielly continues to be consistent, he will be right in the thick of it when the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association cast their votes.

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