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The occasionally progressive Mike Babcock on Mitch Marner

2015 NHL Draft - Round One

SUNRISE, FL - JUNE 26: Head coach Mike Babcock (R) of the Toronto Maple Leafs talks with Mitchell Marner (L) after being selected fourth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center on June 26, 2015 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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For all the flack Mike Babcock takes for his scowling and hard-nosed ways, he really comes across as progressive to the press.

You could argue that there was nothing extraordinary about his conversation with TSN about promising prospect Mitch Marner.

Saying that a high-end prospect was “magical” during a practice and that he has a good chance to make the Toronto Maple Leafs next season isn’t groundbreaking. Praising other coaches isn’t unusual, either.

Still, it’s refreshing to hear Babcock’s positive approach to subjects like Marner putting on weight. Rather than making it a high-pressure sell, he insists “all you have to do is get stronger” and that he wants him to be ... the best Mitch he can be.

(It’s kind of adorable.)

The Maple Leafs should really follow Bab’s advice and let the players solve that problem for them, as there are advantages to keeping Marner with the team (getting his NHL reps) versus being sent down (saving ELC years, giving him time to mature).

Either way, it makes you wonder if Babcock’s approach really sets him apart. Yes, there’s that taskmaster side, but there’s also open-minded you don’t always see in the “stricter” types.

People love to beat up on the Leafs, including with Babcock and his hefty salary.

They’ll make mistakes along the way, yet interviews like these give you the impression that the team is in much abler hands.

NHL.com has more on Babcock eyeing Marner here.