Toronto Maple Leafs acquire Michael Grabner in trade with New York Islanders

It was a conscious decision.

Host’s Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill, and Jamie McClennan speculate that Leafs management had likely decided they’d seen enough from these prospects and that they didn’t fit the mold of what the Leafs were looking to do moving forward. It makes no sense to me. “So why don’t we look after the structure in our own zone first and then I think our goaltending will be better”. “And they’re not as proud as they should be”, said Babcock.

What Babcock has here, entering his first camp with the Leafs, is flexibility. The veteran Stanley Cup- and Olympic gold-medal-winning coach understands he’s in for some surprises, but he doesn’t want the team’s recent struggles to cloud his view. “That’s realistically the difference is there’s no grey area”. A year ago, the fan base didn’t believe in the message from GM Dave Nonis and coach Randy Carlyle.

“We’re going to get organized and we’re going to work”, he said.

“Mike did a really good job of reaching out to everyone and basically outlining what he expects”, Phaneuf said.

Babcock has had multiple conversations with players over the summer telling them just that.

“A first impression’s pretty huge, especially on a new coach for playing time and stuff like that”, Gardiner said. “I don’t think anything has to be said”. Their offseason included trading Phil Kessel to the Sabres.

In the Grabner deal, New York received left wing Taylor Beck, who had 16 points in 62 games last season for the Nashville Predators, plus defensemen Matt Finn and Tom Nilsson, goalie Christopher Gibson, and center Carter Verhaeghe.

For some time, Snow has been fielding calls for Grabner, who once amazed the league with his breakaway speed while scoring 34 goals in his debut season with the Isles in 2010-11, after being claimed off waivers from the Panthers.

Prospective Leaf Brad Boyes, in training camp on a professional tryout, said a coach can make a huge difference.

“I don’t even know how old they are”, Babcock said.

“Can they play or can they not?”

That’s the determination Babcock, Lamoriello and their staffs will make over the next few weeks before Toronto hosts the Montreal Canadiens Oct. 7 to open the regular season.

“There’s going to be three or four guys that are going to be way better than I think”, Babcock added. The 20-year-old also dropped the gloves in the opening minute of the second period with burly defender Brett Lernout, but that was one aspect of his game that isn’t worth talking about as the Habs defender definitely got the upper hand. “Let’s decide who wants to play”.

“Why would I watch them be bad?” he asked. They both want to be No. 1.

Players who have been released to return to their junior teams include forwards Bradley Latour, Scott Eansor, Nikita Korostelev and JJ Piccinich, defencemen Cameron Lizotte and Brenden Miller, and goaltender Justin Nichols.

“It’s an easy target if you’re the captain”, said Babcock. I’m excited to be the head coach of the Maple Leafs. “We’re going to work hard to restore the Maple Leafs to their rightful place in the league”.