from Jonas Siegel of TSN,
The seeds were planted for Matt Hunwick to become a Toronto Maple Leaf three years ago when the lockout was still gripping the National Hockey League.
Hunwick, then a member of the Colorado Avalanche, was training at the Barwis Methods gym in Plymouth, Mich., with fellow University of Michigan alum, Jack Johnson. Also working out at the facility was then-head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and future leader of the Leafs, Mike Babcock.
Babcock had seen Hunwick play collegiately at Michigan, but got to know him best during those days in the gym. He saw the intensity, determination and professionalism and the reports he got back - from Wolverines coach Red Berenson as well as the gym's strength coach - were all positive.
Hunwick was a good pro and good man, they told him.
So when Babcock became involved in his first free agency as Leafs coach this past summer Hunwick's name was at or near the top of the list. "I said 'we got to get him'," Babcock recalled.
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