Morgan Rielly steals from Connor McDavid and we all know how that turned out…

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly is taking a page out of Connor McDavid’s book. When addressing the media as the Maple Leafs opened their training camp on Wednesday, the blue liner spoke about the team’s objective this season, and when missing out of the Stanley Cup will be nothing but a failure.

Yes folks, Rielly has taken on the “Cup or Bust mentality we saw in Edmonton last season, when McDavid and star forward Leon Draisaitl had told media on their final day of the 2022-23 season after losing in the second round of the playoffs.

Last season, it was different for the Oilers despite a roller-coaster like campaign. They made it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, losing by one goal to the Florida Panthers. While it was great motivation in Edmonton, the Oilers unfortunately fell short and will need to play hard to make it back to the Finals in the summer of 2025. 

When facing media, Rielly didn’t shy away from the Cup or Bust speech and stated quite bluntly:

“Our goal will always be to win a Stanley Cup. To a degree, it’s Stanley Cup or bust. I think that’s how our group feels. Anything short of that will be a failure.”

Rielly is hoping to inspire his teammates as he is entering his 11th season with the Leafs and his eighth as an alternate captain. The veteran defender is well too aware of the gigantic expectations lingering over their heads and how it impacts the mindset of the team.

His statement better be backed up in the postseason.

Rielly is coming off a 58-point season through 72 games with the Maple Leafs, his third-best season offensively since he’s been in the league. He is currently in the fifth year of an eight-year contract extension signed prior to the 2021-22 season.