In a world of pro sports where it’s “us” against “them,” defenceman Ron Hainsey is having a little trouble using the word “we” when it comes to describing the Maple Leafs.

“From the top down they know how to play,” Hainsey said of his new teammates. “They’re well-coached, they’ve got some skill and they’ve got some guys who can put the puck in the net. I should say ‘we’ now. We’ll get going.”

Hainsey can be forgiven. Toronto is his third stop in a calendar year, and the seventh (or sixth depending on how you define Atlanta and Winnipeg) of his 15-year career. He’s a Leaf largely because of his experience, which now includes a Stanley Cup, hoisted in June as a Pittsburgh Penguin.

Read more:

Auston Matthews and Leafs anxious to back up breakout season

Travis Dermott not a shy rookie as he chases spot on Leafs’ blue line

Swedish forward Carl Grundstrom will be one to watch at Leafs camp

“It (winning the Cup) doesn’t hurt, but we have to remember that up until Feb. 23, I was building on a pretty impressive resumé of non-Stanley Cup experience,” Hainsey said. “Things turned quickly. I was very fortunate to join the team I did that had a real crack at it.

“If I learned anything in those couple of months, hopefully I can use that to my advantage going forward.”

When the season ended, GM Lou Lamoriello and coach Mike Babcock each identified defence as the position that needed the biggest upgrade. Hainsey, 36, was the biggest name brought in.

Hainsey and Morgan Rielly have been working as a pair in informal workouts, as have Jake Gardiner and Nikita Zaitsev.

When camp opens Thursday, the biggest questions will surround the blue line — whether the top four is good enough and who will be in bottom pairing.

“The opinions of other people doesn’t concern anybody in our room,” Rielly said. “We’re confident in the group that we have. We added a Stanley Cup-winning defenceman. Jake and I worked hard this summer to get better. We feel we’re in a good spot.

“I feel like all the guys are ready to take a step. We understand there’s room to improve and we’re going to take that seriously.”

Two free agents have been brought in from Sweden: Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman. Marlies such as Travis Dermott, Rinat Valiev and Andrew Nielsen will get long looks. Two holdovers are back: Connor Carrick and Martin Marincin. And there’s Timothy Liljegren, the top pick in the June draft.

“Not grizzled,” Hainsey joked about the youth on the blue line. “We got some guys. Morgan is only 23 but he’s played. He’s seen a few things. Other guys are getting there. We’ll get rolling. These guys know how to play.”

A game that stands out in his mind — one of the reasons the coveted blue liner signed with Toronto as a free agent — was the second-last of the season: the Leafs were at home to Hainsey and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it was the playoff clincher for Toronto.

“We, Pittsburgh, played them when they clinched,” Hainsey said. “It was a heck of game. We played well, but they stuck with it. They did a good job of giving us a hard time in the neutral zone and were able to get the win and clinch a playoff spot. It’s an impressive group.”

Hainsey went on to hoist the Stanley Cup — the second in a row for Pittsburgh but first for Hainsey, who came to the Penguins in a trade-deadline deal.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“It all seems somewhat surreal,” Hainsey said of his Stanley Cup experience. “The last minute and a half, you’re tied, then you’re ahead, then you win it. It was hard to describe.”

And he’s had his day with the Cup.

“Had it in my house in the morning. Nice. With the kids, family, a couple of friends. Brought it to the arena I played in growing up in Bolton, Conn. Had it there into the afternoon. What I did after that will stay between me and the people who were there.”