TORONTO — Mike Babcock didn’t have to be at the MasterCard Centre on Wednesday to know Auston Matthews is a “special player” — one who broke the glass with a shot on his first day as a Maple Leaf.
While concentrating on his duties as head coach of Team Canada for the time being, Babcock is still able to keep tabs on the first overall pick of the 2016 entry draft.
What Babcock wants to see from the Leafs’ prized prospect is progression, something Matthews exhibited during his impressive World Cup stint with Team North America.
As a result, even though he says Matthews will start on Toronto’s third line, by no means does that mean he’ll stay there.