As of Saturday, the number of Maple Leafs defencemen who’ve played 800 regular-season games can be counted on four fingers.
Morgan Rielly, a first-round pick in 2012 who began in tumultuous times, the ground floor of the Shanaplan with winter highs and playoffs lows, reaches the milestone in Boston.
Now 30 years old and a first-time father this summer, he joins Tim Horton (1,184 games as a Leaf), Borje Salming (1,099) and Tomas Kaberle as blueline bulwarks.
“I haven’t thought much about it, but I do have high aspirations and, along the way, remember my 500th game and certain point milestones,” Rielly said Friday. “At this stage, you just want to focus on keep playing, helping your team.”
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From the B.C. native’s first game on Oct. 5, 2013 — a 5-4 shootout win over Ottawa at what was then the Air Canada Centre — only three Leafs teammates are still active elsewhere: Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk and James Reimer.
That was five coaches and three captains ago.
“I feel young,” the long-time alternate captain insisted. “I’m fortunate to have spent the time here in Toronto. I feel I’ve had a lot of help from the equipment staff, the medical staff, the support system here. It’s world class and a lot of credit goes to them.”
Teammate Chris Tanev reached 800 NHL games Thursday, Toronto being his fourth team.
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