Ryan O'Reilly left Toronto because the pressure was too great

If you think there’s pressure in Montreal for the players, you haven’t been watching Toronto for very long. In Montreal, the team’s athletes can at least get a break from the fans, the vast majority of whom don’t speak English. There’s pressure in Montreal, there’s no denying it, but this element can play a positive role in the balance from the players’ point of view.

Not so in Toronto.

Everyone speaks English there, so there’s no break. Wherever the guys go, they can be inveigled by a fan who will tell them what they think. 100% of the media content and comments on social networks are in English and can be understood by the players. It’s a solid, more intense notch when you think about it.

When Ryan O’Reilly decided to test the autonomy market this summer and sign with the Nashville Predators, we could all imagine him wanting to be a little less in the public eye. We imagined it, now we know it, since he confirmed it earlier today at a press conference.

This morning on #FirstUp, we were joined by @PredsNHL forward Ryan O’Reilly and he opened up about why he left #LeafsForever in free agency.

Listen to O’Reilly’s full interview HERE: https://t.co/TUzhvM5XD7 pic.twitter.com/GzryIM1tYS

– First Up (@FirstUp1050) July 17, 2023

Being in the spotlight like this, constantly, can’t be easy at all, and Ryan O’Reilly has decided to ultimately choose himself and go to a place where he believes he can be good and successful.
Speaking of which, he says he doesn’t understand why his new team couldn’t aspire to top honors.

Predators’ O’Reilly: ‘Why can’t we contend? ‘ https://t.co/qsLoeA64SR pic.twitter.com/x1YsFKDnGp

– theScore NHL (@theScoreNHL) July 16, 2023

Just to answer your question my dear Ryan, here are the best forwards with you on the club: Filip Forsberg and Gustav Nyquist. It’s clearly not Colton Sissons who’ll be burning the light bulb behind the opposing net next season!

That said, I wish him the best of luck.

Nothing is impossible. After all, when he left Buffalo criticizing the organization’s culture, many wondered if he wasn’t the problem. His Cup in St. Louis has rectified that. If he repeats the feat in Nashville, I’ll be the first to be astonished and beg his pardon, Mononcle.

In gusto

– It looks like Fanatics may replace Nike as Hockey Canada’s jersey manufacturer.

Nike informed Hockey Canada about 4 months ago it wasn’t renewing its sponsorship with HC, industry sources tell me.
They add Fanatics a strong candidate to replace Nike. Fanatics reached deal in March to replace Adidas as manufacturer of NHL player jerseys in 2024-25.

– Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) July 17, 2023

– 18 clips of Alex Newhook in his last game with the Avalanche.

I took a detailed video scouting look at Alex Newhook’s last game in Colorado – Game 7 vs. Seattle. There are 18 notable clips, descriptions of his play, and a look at how he may fare in MTL this season. For subscribers: https://t.co/BW5q9Vq8qT pic.twitter.com/A2zBOeD7Ub

– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) July 17, 2023

– Charles Barkley, bravo!