Ryan O'Reilly provided the Maple Leafs with the offensive punch they needed to get to the 2nd round of the playoffs; but according to him that's about as far as they were going to.
While only playing in a handful of games for the Leafs, O'Reilly still managed 11 points while playing a full 200-foot game and also added an impressive 9 points in 11 playoff appearances.
However that off-season, O'Reilly darted for Music City and never looked back. Fans were puzzled after such a strong yet brief stint with the Leafs, but according to O'Reilly it was time to get out of town. On 'The Empty Netters' podcast, host Dan Powers gave some insight into why ROR left:
"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.''
There is no clarity as to who the offending personalities were in the locker room, but given the roster at the time there could be a couple of possibilities. O'Reilly's voice carries some importance as he's a former Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe winner who commands respect and motivation in every locker room he's in.
There has been a significant roster change since O'Reilly's time in Toronto, and a changing of the guard with Auston Matthews becoming the new leader in Maple Leaf land; O'Reilly may need to eat his words come June.
