from Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun,

For those who need a reminder, Babcock said after Team Canada won the World Cup last Thursday: “This is a sign of what’s going to happen here in Toronto, just so you know.”

It was a not-subtle hint that a championship is coming to Toronto via the Leafs. Certainly, the least that someone could take from it is that winning soon will be the norm.

Babcock’s matter-of-fact ways have been welcomed by the players since he was named coach of the Leafs in May 2015, and his post-Cup words didn’t disappoint.

Added pressure? Not quite.

“When he shows that kind of confidence in what we’re doing here, the direction this team is going, it just relays right through the team,” Rielly said on Sunday.

“He has confidence in us and therefore we have confidence in each other. As players we’re motivated and we want to prove him right.”

As much as Auston Matthews is viewed as the saviour — and let’s make no mistake, his potential is greater than any of his fellow young Leafs teammates — Matthews won’t be carrying the load by himself.

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