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Maple Leafs Star Admits to Some Envy as Blue Jays Steal the Spotlight in Toronto

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Mike Armenti
October 21, 2025 (10:38)

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Maple Leafs star defenseman Morgan Rielly has admitted to having some feelings of excitement and envy after the Toronto Blue Jays punched their ticket to the World Series on Monday.

The City of Toronto is absolutely beaming on Tuesday, after the Toronto Blue Jays clinched a spot in the World Series for the first time since 1993, thanks in large to a left field bomb from George Springer to propel the Jays past the Seattle Mariners.

Did Vladdy Jr. Just Break The Curse?

Fellow Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also made headlines in Toronto on Monday, showing up for Game 7 of the ALCS waring an Auston Matthews Maple Leafs jersey, with some suggesting that he even broke the Leafs' Game 7 curse in doing so.

Morgan Rielly Admittedly Jealous of Blue Jays' Success

With all of the hype in Toronto right now, you'd think that the Leafs would be feeling nothing but love. However, as Morgan Rielly admitted to on Tuesday, while there's a lot of love, there's also some jealousy.

"There's a small part of you that you're envious of them. You're a bit jealous at what they're doing, just because of Toronto. You watch it firsthand. You're obviously happy for them. It's a great moment for the city. But we want to be able to do that and have a run like that. We felt that when the Raptors did it, too. So, you look at the passion that they're playing with, and that's contagious and you want to be able to also bring that when your time comes."

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Rielly and the Leafs have not experienced anywhere close to the same level of success that the Blue Jays have during his entire tenure in Toronto, and long before it.

The Leafs stood the best chance of anyone to dispatch of the Florida Panthers last season, but despite holding a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-7 series against the Cats, they came up short, falling in 7 games, with downright brutal performances in Games 5 and 7.

The failure to launch for the Leafs has been well-documented, and the backlash that has come from those failures was felt heavily by star winger Mitch Marner, who often wilted in elimination games, which ultimately led to his departure from Toronto.

Can the Leafs Rise to the Level of the Raptors and Blue Jays?

With Rielly's comments about wanting to experience post-season success with the Maple Leafs and vaulting their names into the conversation of great Toronto sports teams like the 2019 Toronto Raptors and the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays, it will be interesting to see if Rielly and his teammates can put it all together this year.

Previously on Toronto Hockey Daily

Blue Jays Manager Affirms Vladdy Guerrero Jr. Just Broke Maple Leafs' Curse With Nod to Auston Matthews

Anthony Stolarz Clears Up Any Remaining Confusion Regarding Comments About Leafs Teammates

New Report: Nicholas Robertson's Time With the Maple Leafs May Finally Be Coming to an End

POLL
OCTOBRE 21 \| 653 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Star Admits to Some Envy as Blue Jays Steal the Spotlight in Toronto Do you think this year's Maple Leafs can do what this year's Blue Jays just did, advancing to the Finals this year?
Yes	133	20.4 %
No	341	52.2 %
Maybe, but not without a big trade acquisition	179	27.4 %
List of polls

Maple Leafs Star Admits to Some Envy as Blue Jays Steal the Spotlight in Toronto

Maple Leafs star defenseman Morgan Rielly has admitted to having some feelings of excitement and envy after the Toronto Blue Jays punched their ticket to the World Series on Monday.

Did Vladdy Jr. Just Break The Curse?

Morgan Rielly Admittedly Jealous of Blue Jays' Success

Can the Leafs Rise to the Level of the Raptors and Blue Jays?

Do you think this year's Maple Leafs can do what this year's Blue Jays just did, advancing to the Finals this year?