Toronto Maple Leafs (8) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (9) - East Play In Round

[DusterDave]

Thanks for the breakdown coach. Still doesn’t have much to do with leadership on and off the ice. Players aren’t perfect and make mistakes. Remember Phaneuf was once the captain for several years.

[tweetdrivr]

I disagree. I realize players will make mistakes. But that’s basic basic stuff. And to follow a gaffe like that up with a thought that that guy should be team captain just doesn’t make sense. That’s why I called you on it. Rielly is just a kid. Phaneuf was definitely past it from a skills standpoint when he was Leafs captain but he had the experience. And the team was in a very different place as a group at the time. And I’d like to think that’s a decision Rielly will not make again in a similar circumstance....aka experience. Maybe someday he’ll make sense as a captain. But it’s certainly not now.

[DusterDave]

Agree to disagree and we are entitled to our own opinions. But Rielly is 26 with 7 seasons of NHL experience. To call him a kid is something I can’t get on board with. Especially since we see guys named captain at age 20-21 these days. To me a captain isn’t your best player, it should be a guy with natural leadership ability, which Rielly has shown off the ice for several years now by stepping in front of the camera during the darkest of days and all the community work he has done with Pride etc. In my opinion, the captaincy decision in Toronto came down to contracts. Tavares is the local boy with 6 years left on his deal. While Rielly only has a year left and it’s no guarantee we will be able to retain him. If Rielly had another 5-6 years left on his deal I’d bet he would have been strongly considered. You have to take into account he is a Leafs draft pick/product, fully developed in our system.

[GinFizz]

This is common knowledge and if anyone gets mad at you for that it's unjustified. They might get mad at you for thinking it wasn't common knowledge though lol. He may very well develop into one but he isn't right now.

Yeah I guess so. Part of me feels that you either have it or you don't. PLD took charge of the CBJs and led them to a win. Matthews doesnt show he has that drive.

Is Taveras seen as the leader of this team? forget about who has the C..

[The Comish]

I hate it when people want (not directed at anyone talking about the Leafs C in this thread) the best player on the team to wear the C. Successful teams have multiple leaders who step up at different times. Tavares is most definitely the Captain now!

[The Comish]

Good night Toronto. Good luck in the lottery. May the odds be in your favour.

[DusterDave]

The Morgan Rielly who didn’t get back on the back-check and allowed DuBois to score the OT game winner? That one?

Alright, let me have it on the 3-0 goal. lol

[The Comish]

Of course it's 3-2 now...lol!

[The Comish]

Wow, what a pass by Matthews on the game tying goal! Goin' to overtime!! I would watch a pay per view of Tortorella for the last 3 minutes of this game.

[Daydream Nation]

That was awesome!!

[DusterDave]

My goodness.

[hockeyrobot]

This team. Unbelievable.

[DusterDave]

I would watch a pay per view of Tortorella for the last 3 minutes of this game.

And the intermission!

[PenguinHunter]

The Power went out here what happened!?!?

[hockeymanG23]

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