From the Toronto Sun's Mike Zeisberger:

In the first of this two-part series, the new Leafs coach sat down with the Toronto Sun to open up on a variety of topics, including Dion Phaneuf, Nazem Kadri, Lamoriello and, most importantly, re-establishing the Maple Leafs brand in the hockey world.

“We’re an Original Six franchise that doesn’t hold our rightful place in the National Hockey league right now,” he says. “We will.”

How? Even Babcock is aware of the perception that, rightly or wrongly, some players don’t want to be play in Toronto, whether it’s because of the franchise’s recent futility or because of the fishbowl that comes with being a Leaf.

“Maybe not now,” he says confidently. “But they are going to come.

“What was the line in that movie Field of Dreams? ‘If you build it, they will come.’

“So, there ya go.”

Continued...