There’s a word going around to describe the 2015-16 Maple Leafs: rebuild. And it’s a bad word for the team’s returning players.

“We don’t want to go through this thing . . . with the impression it’s okay to lose a few games because there are people who think we’re in a long-term rebuild,” Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly said. “That’s not how we’re approaching it. We have high expectations for ourselves.”

Rielly, James van Riemsdyk and Dion Phaneuf were part of the NHL/NHLPA media tour, which was in Toronto to promote next year’s World Cup. Each expressed optimism for the year to come.

“As a player, I don’ think you care for the word rebuild,” van Riemsdyk said. “My approach isn’t changing as far as what I want to do on the ice as a player. “I want to be on a team that’s successful. Have a good season. I don’t think guys are too worried about the outside stuff and calling it a rebuild.

“We want to win as many games as we can and I’m sure the coaching staff wants the same.”

It has been an off-season of overhaul with the Maple Leafs, from scouts and coaches to the front office and star players. Change was everywhere. The team has started to acquire draft picks and prospects, building from within.

But to think the players are just keeping the seats warm for those to come in a season or two — Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen — is largely an insult to the 2015-16 team, which opens camp in a week.

“The way I am preparing, we’re going to come into camp and try to get better every day,” Phaneuf said. “I’m not going to sit here and predict where were going to be. We’re going to put the work in, and put the effort in and see where it takes us.”

The wild card to any prediction regarding the Leafs is Mike Babcock, arguably the best coach in hockey. Babcock has the reputation of being able to get the most out of players.

They respond to him, whether it is a superstar accepting a limited role in the Olympics or a role player stepping up through the system.

“He’s going to bring structure,” Phaneuf said. “He’s a very detailed-oriented coach. You look at the teams he had in Detroit — no matter what they went through, whether it was injuries, guys retiring, trades — they were very consistent in the way they played and the structure of their team and the style of game they played. That’s allowed them to have the success they’ve had.”

The Leafs will host a rookie tournament this weekend in London. The main camp opens next Thursday in Toronto before heading Halifax for the weekend.

“We’re anxious to get going,” Rielly said. “We made a lot of changes in the off-season, Lou Lamoriello, Jacques Lemaire, Mike Babcock. There’s new faces. There are guys who are trying to prove themselves. It’s people who want to win.”

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