Even with the significant change that will come for the roster over the next few years there has to be some level of consistency to keep Babcock’s positive locker-room train rolling along.
I talked about this a little bit with the guys from Montreal Hockey Talk on their pre-game show October 24th, and I think that Matt Hunwick and Shawn Matthias are two guys that Babcock might keep around beyond their current deals.
Hunwick was an obvious choice given that Babcock made him an assistant captain on the Toronto Maple Leafs this year – and he has a two year deal – but Matthias is another guy that has been simply going about his business this year.