Mike Babcock gets most of the attention but the Maple Leafs assistant coaches are a diverse group with decades of experience between them, and each individual is as driven to win as anyone.
And the players with whom they work are thrilled to have them on their side.
“Babs, he’s running the whole team, he does a lot here, so I think the assistant coaches are great at being that support,” Leafs forward Shawn Matthias said. “They come up and talk to you one-on-one more, if you’ve got a question, they’re always there to ask and help you out.