from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

On one side you have the guys who have been part of winning programs and understand the discipline and sacrifice needed to win on a consistent basis. On the other, with a few exceptions, there are the players who have been through so many ups and downs here that they’re bound to be suffering from blue and white vertigo.

Don’t believe me?

Take it from no-nonsense defenceman Roman Polak, who had spent his entire NHL career in St. Louis before a trade to Toronto last summer. He didn’t flinch when asked why the Leafs haven’t played with enough defensive structure.

“Because it’s hard work,” Polak said before Wednesday’s 6-2 loss to Washington. “It’s always tough to do something you know you don’t like to do. I think we have lots of guys that just want to play offence.”...

Cody Franson, a Leafs veteran with a newcomer’s sensibility, also pointed to some underlying issues when he said that the group has “to hold ourselves more accountable for what’s been going on.”

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