Offensive skill does not win you playoff games. I’d take O’Reilly on my roster every single day of the week because not only does he want to play in Toronto and win here, but he’s a guy you go to war with. I don’t care that he’s 32-years-old and that his cap-hit could be around $5-7M per year. Those players shrink in those moments and are afraid to be in scrums, so how in the world are they going to lead you to victory when the games mean the most? You know who doesn’t fall apart in the playoffs and is someone who helps his team win? You can’t say that about Mitch Marner or William Nylander. He’s always been the best player on his team, but he’s also been someone who’s impossible to play against in the playoffs and heightens his enthusiasm in the big moments. Toronto Maple Leafs Must Re-Sign O’Reilly They will do whatever it takes to win, which doesn’t show up on the scoresheet, which is why someone like Sidney Crosby has been so successful over his career. Sure, there are players who can score 40 goals or 100 points who win, but the reason why they’re so successful in the playoffs is because of that work ethic I talked about. There are lots of people who would be ecstatic if O’Reilly didn’t re-sign in Toronto, but those people look way too much into the numbers instead of looking at the type of person O’Reilly is and what he brings to a dressing room. They acquired two players who were impactful in the playoffs and whenever you have a chance to trade for a former Conn Smythe winner, you do it. It was a great trade at the time and continued to be a great trade after the season was finished.Įven if those draft picks become everyday NHLers, you’re making that move 100 times out of a 100 because the Leafs received the better players and are in a win-now window. In 2015, they were ranked by Forbes as the 37th most valuable sports team in the world (and the only NHL team to be in the top 50).The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a terrible decision if they let Ryan O’Reilly walk into free agency.Īt the NHL Trade Deadline last February, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari in exchange for Adam Gaudette, Mikhail Abramov and four draft picks, including their 2023 first rounder. With an estimated worth of US$1.3 billion, the Leafs are the most valuable franchise in the NHL, followed by the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens. Their 48-season drought between championships is currently the longest in the NHL. They won their last championship in 1967. The Maple Leafs have won thirteen Stanley Cup championships, second only to the 24 championships of their primary rival, the Montreal Canadiens. The team colours are navy blue and white. The franchise was sold in 1927 and was renamed the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club. In 1919, the NHL transferred the franchise to new owners who christened the team the Toronto St. The franchise was founded in 1917, operating simply as Toronto and known today as the Toronto Arenas, as it was operated by the Toronto Arena Company, owners of the Arena Gardens arena. In February 1999, they moved to the Air Canada Centre, which replaced Maple Leaf Gardens, the team's home since 1931. and are represented by Chairman Larry Tanenbaum. They are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Ltd. The team is one of the "Original Six" league members. The Maple Leafs are a member club of the league's Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club) are a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, that competes in the National Hockey League (NHL).
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