Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was asleep when his team was awarded the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft on Saturday, as he is in Europe preparing for the IIHF World Championship, but the 22-year-old was able to share his reaction after Team Canada's practice Sunday.
"It's pretty exciting," Rielly told TSN. "I'm sure that the people back home are looking forward to that, and it's a big opportunity for the team. We'll see what happens, but it's great."
With the first pick, the Maple Leafs are expected to select center Auston Matthews - who will be representing the United States at the IIHF tournament - and Rielly is aware the American could be a big part of the team's future as long as he can handle the burden of being a star in Toronto.
"He's a big, two-way guy. He's one of the guys every team wants," Rielly said. "If that's who we end up taking then that's good, but whoever it is, he's gonna have a little bit of pressure on him in Toronto, but that's just the way it is."
Rielly will get a better look at his potential future teammate soon, as Canada opens Group B play at the World Championship against the United States in St. Petersburg on Friday.
