Babcock coached the Maple Leafs from 2015-2019 and a pair of players were asked about their thoughts on his quick resignation following an investigation into his conduct.
Mike Babcock’s days as an NHL head coach are certainly over after he had asked to go through players' cell phones during the offseason led to an investigation and then a decision to resign from the Columbus Blue Jackets before he can stand behind the bench in a game.
Now that the dust has settled, a pair of Babcock's former players weighed in on the events that took place. At least, they were asked but avoided directly addressing the situation.
Maple Leafs captain John Tavares played under Babcock for Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey and chose to sign with Toronto as a free agent with Babcock as coach during the summer of 2018.
"I think overall the whole situation is just unfortunate," Tavares said on Wednesday at Leafs media day on Wednesday. "But for us and myself, (we’re) focused on the opportunity we have here and continue to build with Tre (Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving) and with Sheldon (Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe) and our staff here. Just unfortunate all around."
Babcock was dismissed by the Maple Leafs in November of 2019 with several years still remaining on an eight-year, $50 million contract. Shortly after Babcock was replaced with Keefe, the Toronto Sun reported on a situation where Marner, a rookie at the time, was asked to rank players from hardest-working to least hardest-working. The list was then shared with other players on the team.
The players didn't take it out on Marner and were more upset that Babcock would conduct such an exercise, let alone share it with other players.
Marner was directly asked this time if Babcock ever asked to go through his phone.
"I don’t really want to comment on that too much. Whatever happened, happened. It was back in the day with me and myself when I was with everyone here," Marner said. "He’s not with our team anymore. Obviously, my focus is on the team and not any other person. My focus is on the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club and who we have around us as human beings."
The Maple Leafs were set to be reunited with Babcock on Dec. 14 when they host the Blue Jackets. Given that the coach's redemption tour stalled before it ever started, it's likely this was the last time they'll ever be asked about the coach again.
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