Babcock ‘excited’ about Leafs’ future
If Auston Matthews was extolling t he virtues about playing in Toronto to his NHL all- star peers over the weekend, Mike Babcock took it another step.
“Our team is going in the right direction,” Babcock said Tuesday after the Maple Leafs practised at the MasterCard Centre.
“It never happens as fast as people want and yet we have improved quickly to a point where I think you can have pride in what we’re doing, but we’re also cognizant of the fact we have a long way to go and we have to keep getting better.
“But you’re allowed to push the envelope and get better faster than you are supposed to and become a deeper team. That’s the process we’re in right now. We’re excited.”
The Leafs resume their schedule Wednesday when they play host to the New York Islanders at Air Canada Centre. With a record of 2818-5 and 61 points, the Leafs are firmly in third place in the Atlantic Division, 15 points ahead of the fourthplace Detroit Red Wings before games on Tuesday.
Catching and moving past the Boston Bruins, who were second in the division with 66 points and had four games in hand on Toronto, is the Leafs’ main focus.
Few could argue with Babcock’s assessment of his team at this point, which is midway through the third year of his eight-year contract.
The presence of Matthews, of course, is what would lure most players to possibly play in Toronto.
Matthews rejoined his teammates for practice after getting Monday off and was back between Zach Hyman and William Nylander.
“I’m not shy about how much I enjoy playing here,” Matthews said.
“I think everybody feels the same. We love the passion the city has for the team, for hockey, so it’s an unbelievable place to play.”
What about the possible “recruiting” Matthews did during his time in Tampa with, for example, defenceman Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings?
“You guys won’t let this one go, huh?” Matthews said with a smile. “It was just a joke. There were some top players there and everybody knows contract situations, guys being UFAs or whatever, but it was just jokingly said.”
While the Leafs boast plenty of attractions — Nylander, Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly, Nikita Zaitsev and Frederik Andersen help form a solid nucleus — Matthews is the player that allows the Leafs to push the envelope, to borrow the phrase used by Babcock.
Though Matthews has had to recover from two injuries this season, Babcock sees a player who has grown steadily since his four- goal debut in October 2016.
“He’s just a way better player,” Babcock said. “He understands more.
“Your best players are your best players and that means they work the hardest, do it the best and set the best example. If you want to be a championship team, you need that to happen.
“That’s what ( Matthews) wants. He wants to be real player who plays all the big minutes and all the big situations and delivers under the pressure of that and enjoy it.”
For his part, Matthews said he is a “lot more comfortable” on the ice in his second NHL season.
With 37 points ( 22 goals and 15 assists) in 41 games, Matthews leads the Leafs in scoring despite missing 10 games. He has a defensive awareness at the age of 20 that leads many to believe he will be a Selke Trophy candidate at some point.
In other words, Matthews is evolving into the all-round centre the Leafs had a firm idea they were getting when they drafted him first overall in 2016.
“The first year is a lot of firsts; you’re going through a bunch of different things, things you have not experienced, yet you’re learning,” Matthews said.
“( I’m) still learning and have a long way to go, but you know what to expect in the sense of the schedule, going up against different guys, what to expect day in and day out.”