Ryan O'Reilly allegedly states that a pair of current Leafs will never win a Cup

Ex-Maple Leaf Ryan O'Reilly allegedly believes the current Leafs roster is unlikely to win a Stanley Cup due to a pair of players not embodying a winning culture.

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired two-way forward Ryan O'Reilly during the 2022-23 season just ahead of the trade deadline, hoping he would help push the team over the top in their quest for the Stanley Cup.

O'Reilly made an immediate impact, recording 11 points in 13 regular-season games and 9 points in 11 playoff games. His strong performance was a key factor in the Maple Leafs advancing past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. Given his contributions, it was surprising to many Leafs fans that O'Reilly did not want to re-sign with Toronto. Now, the reason behind his decision has may have become clearer.

Dan Powers of The Empty Netters Podcast shed light on why O'Reilly chose not to return to the Maple Leafs:

Powers didn't get into who O'Reilly mentioned or why he believes that the team can't win with those specific players, but it's certainly enough to keep your mind busy pondering in the dog days of summer.

O'Reilly, who captained the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup in the 2018-19 season and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs' MVP, is a respected leader on any team he is on. His assessment of the current Leafs roster carries significant weight.

If O'Reilly's observations are accurate and the current roster lacks the necessary components for a championship winning team, it might be time for a major overhaul in Toronto. With superstar Auston Matthews will now be wearing the C, there is hope that the shift in leadership and culture will help the Leafs move closer to their Stanley Cup winning aspirations.

Source: Empty Netters PodcastEmpty Netters Podcast: What NHL Players Are About To Have A Career Year? Aug 7, 2024

Source: HockeyDBRyan O'Reilly Statistics

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