Kadri calls Eller's Leafs jab 'bulletin board material'

Nazem Kadri says the Toronto Maple Leafs will use Lars Eller's remarks about them as motivation going forward.

"Bulletin board material," Kadri said Monday when asked about Eller's postgame assessment following a 4-2 victory by Toronto over the Washington Capitals on Saturday, according to NHL.com's Dave McCarthy.

"I don't know how he can be serious with that comment," the Leafs center added. "I understand they're coming off hanging a (championship) banner, but you've got to give teams respect that have earned it, and I certainly think we've earned it."

Eller told reporters Saturday night that he wouldn't put the Leafs on the same level as the Pittsburgh Penguins, and then elaborated on that.

"Nothing special, really. We're used to playing against (Sidney) Crosby and (Evgeni) Malkin. Everything kind of drops from there, so it's not that special, to be honest. It's a good team, like a lot of others. They'll probably be a (playoff) team, I'd think."

The Leafs and Capitals will meet again Jan. 23 in Toronto.