from Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun,

No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthews was not chastised, at least publicly, during his 13-game goal-less streak and has been trying to work on defence while keeping pace to tie for the team lead of 12 goals with veteran James van Riemsdyk.

On Sunday, Babcock thought it was time to give right winger Mitch Marner a wakeup call. Although he’s been part of this year’s exciting offensive push and made the off-season commitment that Babcock demanded so as not to be buried in a big man’s NHL, something was amiss the past few games in the latter’s opinion.

That’s why Marner found himself playing the early part of the game against Colorado on the fourth line, with Matt Martin and Ben Smith. Marner came into Sunday with no points in his previous five games and perhaps a little less impact than on his regular high-profile line with van Riemsdyk and centre Bozak.

“I’ve just been watching the games,” Babcock deadpanned when asked about his Marner move. “I think there has been a message (from the coaching staff) going on for a bit.

“That’s just the process of growing up in the National Hockey League. It doesn’t go your way all the time, in practice, in games. You have to work hard every single day. I don’t know if I saw a response (in his 16:32 of ice time Sunday), I just thought it was the right thing to do.”

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