New Maple Leaf Michael Pezzetta Opens Up About Pressure in Toronto vs Montreal

Playing for an NHL team in Canada is tough, as the fans and the organizations bring so much more passion, energy and when things go bad, unfortunately they bring the hatred and the criticism.

This has led to so many players departing Canada to leave the spotlight of that pressure, but for others, it's what makes them thrive, and for someone like winger Michael Pezzetta, it's all he's ever known.

Pezetta has spent the first four seasons of his career with the Montreal Canadiens, and now, he has joined his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs in free agency, and while he's yet to play a game, he's getting himself acquainted with his new home.

In an interview with the NHLPA, Pezzetta addressed the chance to go and play for his hometown team, while also making the comparison of the pressure's between the two.

Unsurprisingly, Pezzetta doesn't see much difference between the two markets, as they are both the biggest in Canada and bring more pressure than any other in sports, making it too tough for many to handle.

However, Pezzetta is giddy at the opportunity to represent the team of his childhood idol Mats Sundin, and after dealing with the pressures of playing in Montreal, he's got the chance and the knowledge to deal with the same pressure in Toronto and not only survive, but thrive in his new NHL home.