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Some Players Can’t Handle the Toronto Maple Leafs Spotlight

By Jeremy Ridgewell

SUNRISE, FL - MAY 7: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs checks Radko Gudas #7 of the Florida Panthers during third-period action in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 7, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - MAY 7: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs checks Radko Gudas #7 of the Florida Panthers during third-period action in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 7, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are a top destination for many players in the NHL, but apparently, the team is not for everyone. A few players have recently spoken publicly about Toronto not being a good fit for them.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, now under new GM Brad Treliving, tried to re-sign Ryan O’Reilly and sign UFA defenseman Radko Gudas this off-season. Both players decided to sign elsewhere. The pressure from fans and the media is apparently too much.

O’Reilly mentioned he enjoyed his brief time in Toronto, but overall did not feel like the right place for him to continue his career. From a team standpoint, if a player doesn’t want to be here, then the Leafs are better off without them.

As a team, you want players on your team who want to be here.

Some Players Can’t Handle the Toronto Maple Leafs Spotlight

As for Radko Gudas, in an article from iSport in Czechia, the veteran defenseman revealed that he wouldn’t be able to handle all of the media on a day-to-day basis.

Through translation, here is what he had to say. “The Bruins went on to win the league by a record amount of points, but as far as the media was concerned, it wasn’t as bad as it was against Toronto. I don’t know if I want to experience something like that every day.”

He also mentioned weather and taxes as other reasons for not signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs or any other Canadian teams that showed interest. Gudas chose the warm California weather and obscurity of playing for the Anaheim Ducks.

And while he’s a good player, it’s probably for the best that the Leafs didn’t sign him to the three-year deal he eventually signed, since he’s 33 already.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving has mentioned that he would like to continue trying to improve the team’s defense. He has the task of finding players who want to play here and are not afraid of the media and spotlight.

The Leafs defense isn’t horrible, but it could be better. As of right now, the Leafs will start the season with the following defense pairings.

Morgan Rielly – T.J. Brodie
Jake McCabe – Klingberg / Liljegren
 Giordano /Timmins  – Klingberg / Liljegren
Extra: Giordano /Timmins 

Next. Leafs Get Lucky. dark

There is still time to improve upon this, but that’s what head coach Sheldon Keefe has to work with for now. We’ll see if it changes between now and the start of the regular season.

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