Rielly and Nylander's weak response to the Matthews hit proves a leadership crisis
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The leadership crisis in Toronto is in full effect after both William Nylander and Morgan Rielly showed a severe lack of responsibility and urgency after watching Auston Matthews go down - and something needs to change.
When Matthews was viciously kneed by Anaheim Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas on Thursday night, there were literally crickets from the Maple Leafs and it took a 20-year old rookie to be the only one to step up when it mattered.
The stars of the team were on the ice, in plain view of what happened and instead of doing something, decided to play ignorant until the pressure was on.
The 'I Didn't See It' Excuse: Why Rielly's apology is a massive red flag
Rielly's post-game comments tried to explain his actions (or rather inaction) with a pretty worrying excuse: He didn't see it.
May I remind you that Rielly was about 15 feet from Matthews and was staring directly at his captain, so where he didn't see what was wrong is trying to pull the wool over our eyes:
It's on me for not responding earlier to Gudas. I didn't understand how bad he got him but I take full responsibility for not being the first one in there or being in there quicker.
But his voice sounded like a kid who knew he is about to get in trouble but didn't want to face the truth. He was solemn and contrite, but it was less him being humble and more trying to cover for himself.
At least Rielly took some accountability in the end, but it doesn't excuse the fact that he is the longest-tenured member of the team, has been teammates with Matthews for a decade, and showed very little toughness.
Maybe Gudas should have taken a slap shot on an empty net instead.
Nylander's Dismissal: Why the lack of a response proves the 'Core Four' era is dead
But it's Nylander's comments that are somehow even worse than Rielly's. The Swedish superstar played ignorant to the fact even though that once Matthews went down it was pretty apparent it didn't look good:
Should have probably gone in there. But in the situation at the time, I didn't really understand until, like, 15 seconds later there was more than what I thought it was. Ya, should have jumped in.
Should have, would have, could have. Whatever excuse Nylander is giving isn't good enough. Yes you should have jumped in, as should everyone on that team.
This lack of accountability from one of your 'Core Four' leftovers proves that this experiment is pretty much dead in the water. Matthews is injured and a shell of his former self, Nylander is great, though apathetic, John Tavares is only getting older, and Mitch Marner's in Vegas.
The culture around the Maple Leafs this season was supposed to bring a lot of passion, grit, and intensity. Instead, it brought a lot of pampered athletes together to try and create some type of success who would rather bark than bite.
All the changes coming into the Maple Leafs organization are a good thing, because this team's culture is rotten to the core with Rielly and Nylander proving it in full force.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 14|922 ANSWERS Rielly and Nylander's weak response to the Matthews hit proves a leadership crisis Are Morgan Rielly and William Nylander the problem for the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 352 | 38.2 % |
| No | 236 | 25.6 % |
| Only partially responsible | 334 | 36.2 % |
| List of polls | ||