Coaching and player animosity aside, it is undeniable that Morgan Rielly was more productive than Tyson Barrie over the past two years.
Rielly, of course, was also coming off a season where he was third in total points by defensemen and led all defensemen in goals.
It was unsurprising, then, that Rielly started the season on the top power-play unit. The entire team struggled under Mike Babcock, with special teams operating poorly. Rielly, though, started the season with 17 points in his first 21 games. On the other hand, Barrie had five assists through his first 21.