Oct 6, 2026 4:10 PM
Some of the Toronto Maple Leafs' newcomers admitted they've needed to adjust to the city's heavy traffic. But longtime defenseman Morgan Rielly scoffed at the complaints.
Part of the experience of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs is obviously the city. And one thing that Toronto is known for is heavy traffic, much like any major city around the world.
For some of the newcomers to the Maple Leafs, it's been a major adjustment, dealing with the traffic in Toronto, and some have admitted they need to prepare for the worst when travelling to the practice rink or Scotiabank Arena.
Center Teddy Blueger, acquired by the Maple Leafs as a free-agent signing on July 1, said that experiencing the traffic was his welcome to Toronto moment.
"Welcome to Toronto? Probably taking almost an hour to get to the game rink," Blueger said at Sunday's optional skills practice. "I’d say [it] caught me off guard quite a bit.
"Taking the subway seems to be a little more consistent. But other than that, it seems like it’s a little unpredictable, and you just kind of got to find your… Just constantly check your phone throughout the day, see what it’s looking like. If there’s a lot of red or not."
In response to that, defenseman Morgan Rielly, who is the longest-active tenured player on the team, scoffed at the complaints, as it's something he had to endure for the past 13 years.
"Just deal with it," Rielly scoffed.
Even for the newest member of the Maple Leafs, Kirill Marchenko, has felt the effects of the city's traffic, with Jack Roslovic giving him the heads up regarding the commute to practice and games. However, he says it's less of an adjustment for him as the traffic in Moscow isn't much better, he admitted.
"He's helped me, explaining what's going on here how long drive to the practice rink how long drive to the game arena," Marchenko said after practice on Friday. "He's explained me all small details about city and traffic but actually I lived last last couple summers in Moscow I know what's in the traffic."
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