from Chris Johnston of Sportsnet,

In offering a surprisingly honest critique of where the Maple Leafs are at in their growth cycle, Alex Ovechkin didn’t say anything Mike Babcock hasn’t already said numerous times about his own team.

Or provide an assessment the Leafs players themselves haven’t already considered.

“I think for them, they are still a young group of guys and I hope they’re going to learn,” Ovechkin said before delivering the overtime winner with his second goal in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over Toronto. “It’s up to them how they want to do it and if they want to play for yourself, or if they want to win a Cup, they have to play differently.”

Given who Ovechkin is, and everything he navigated before finally lifting the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy two springs ago, his is probably the ideal voice for a young Leafs core to listen to.

How can you ignore it?

That’s certainly how Babcock viewed the situation. Even while saying “it hurts your feelings probably a little bit,” the Leafs coach didn’t appear remotely offended.

“Well he knows. He lived it,” said Babcock. “He was the guy. Then he figured out: ‘This is what we’ve got to do to win.’ I mean, that’s why when he sees us …

“We talked about this last year: Fun to watch going 100 miles an hour. You’ve got to learn how to play right.”

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Below, watch the game highlights.