Ryan O'Reilly names current Toronto Maple Leafs players who will never win Cup

PUBLICATION

William Austin
August 14, 2024 (11:20)

SHARE THIS STORY

Ryan O'Reilly's comments about the Toronto Maple Leafs' current roster certainly add an interesting layer to the ongoing discussions about the team's performance and future.

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

''I was talking to someone who knows Ryan O'Reilly very well, and he had talked about his time in Toronto and was like, 'certain people on this Toronto team will never win, and I don't want to be here anymore'. And he's not saying that about the people in [Nashville's] locker room right now.''

Having been a key part of the St.-Louis Blues' Stanley Cup-winning team in 2019, Ryan O'Reilly brings significant credibility to his critiques. His belief that certain players on the Leafs' roster are not conducive to winning a Stanley Cup points to potential underlying issues within the team.

The fact that Ryan O'Reilly chose not to return to the Leafs and his comments about internal dynamics suggest there may be deeper issues than just on-ice performance. This could reflect on leadership, team chemistry, or specific roles within the team that aren't aligned with a winning formula.

With GM Brad Treliving facing pressure to address these concerns and speculation about Auston Matthews potentially being named captain, the team might shift its approach to leadership and roster construction. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if these changes will lead to the deep playoff success that has eluded the Leafs for so long.

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

Source: NHL
Ryan O'Reilly Bio