Tie Domi in the Star today:
http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/article/1152877--feschuk-maple-leafs-futility-eats-at-former-tough-guy-tie-domi
?Nothing eats at me more inside than these guys not doing well,? Domi said. ?When I sat down, it was a weird feeling. There was no atmosphere in the place. And I know why there?s no atmosphere. They?re out of the playoffs again. There?s nothing on the line. They haven?t made the playoffs for how long now??
?I played in every one of those playoff games like it was my last,? Domi said, pounding his chest with a big fist for emphasis. ?I just don?t see that every shift from this team. I don?t see every guy playing hard every shift. They?ve got to start getting accountability in the room.?
He also expressed faith in Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle, with whom Domi played in Winnipeg in the early 1990s.
?He?ll make guys accountable. It doesn?t matter who you are ? he?ll make you accountable,? Domi said.
On dealing with trade rumours: ?Complain about the trade deadline? That?s part of professional sports. That?s why you make so much money. Like, who cares? Don?t listen to it. Don?t even address it. It was driving me crazy seeing guys getting interviews addressing what they were going through.?
On social media: ?Twitter anything about our team ? you should be fined. My son is on the social media, but he?s 16. It?s different. But up here (in the NHL), you?re getting paid big dollars. Big dollars. Don?t take it for granted, because it doesn?t last forever. It doesn?t last forever in this city. This city?s seen a lot of guys come and go that couldn?t handle the pressure.?
On dealing with the media: ?Nazem Kadri can play. But when I saw Kadri?s first few interviews, I was like, ?Is this for real?? I couldn?t believe it. (Veteran players have) got to guide a kid. The first time he did it, some older guys should have taken him for lunch and said, ?Hey, this is how it?s done. . . . You?ve got to talk about the team, not ?me? or ?I.??
On what needs to happen internally: ?Stop saying it?s the GM. Stop saying it?s the coach. Step up, core guys. Figure it out.?
On playoffs:
?It?s incredible. The whole city feels it, lives it. If these guys find a way to get into the playoffs next year, it?s an atmosphere they?ll remember for the rest of their lives,? Domi said. ?The playoff atmosphere in this city? You can?t imagine.?