Toronto Maple Leafs: Players Who Should Flourish Under Mike Babcock

Mike Babcock is sure to bring along his philosophies, tactics and methods with him to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the new head coach. The obvious concern is how all of this will mix with a roster that is decidedly at odds with much of what Babcock coaches.

Babcock's teams have rarely been truculent or physically intimidating. They have not been dependent on a dominant goaltender, nor have they ever really been a fantastic transition team. Rather, they are excellent defensively, like to possess the puck in slowly building towards scoring chances, are great at puck retrieval and are highly disciplined in all aspects of the game.

If you've followed the Leafs in any manner over the past few years, you'll know this team has not been built to do much of what Babcock will want.

With this in mind, let's take a look at the current Toronto Maple Leafs who will fit well with the Babcock formula for winning team play.

Jake Gardiner, Defenceman

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Jake Gardiner has been maligned by some for being too soft, a poor decision-maker and not excellent at any one thing. Despite these misguided beliefs, I believe he'll flourish under Babcock. 

Gardiner is difficult to play against in most respects in that he's an exceptional skater, can use his stick to his advantage defensively and is a very good passer. Babcock will like these attributes, and Gardiner's possession numbers bear this out. His Corsi for percentage in 2014-15 was at 49.8 percent at five-on-five.

All things considered, this was a great number on a team that was badly outplayed and outshot last season. Gardiner is a young veteran at 24, and there are signs the game is beginning to slow down for him. With Babcock's coaching skills, expect this to be even more the case this season.

He played big minutes last year—well over 1,300 minutes at five-on-five. While he makes mistakes, at times, there is much more to like in his game than dislike.

He had 24 points last season, which was seven points less than his career high in 2013-14. Expect Gardiner to get a longer leash in 2015-16 as he learns the new system. He'll be a cornerstone for Babcock moving forward.

Nazem Kadri, Centre

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Nazem Kadri has never lived up to his potential as an NHL player. That should all change under coach Babcock. Expect the former Detroit Red Wings bench boss to nurture and push Kadri, all at the same time.

Kadri is one of the best possession players on the Leafs with a CF percentage of 49.8 percent. Kadri also is a good puck retriever and willing to play in the hard areas.

The key with the London, Ontario, native is not doing it every other shift but every single shift. Kadri is the most talented centre in the Leafs organization, as it stands today. Babcock is likely to recognize this.

Kadri has the tools to be one of the league's better No. 2 centres. Under Babcock, he may be given the opportunity to be the No. 1 centre. As long as he earns it through hard work, he deserves it until the team gets a dominant pivot. 

Josh Leivo, Left Wing

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Josh Leivo played more in the AHL than the NHL last season, but that should change in 2015-16. Leivo is a strong skater who thinks the game very well. He makes good decisions with the puck, and that is an attribute that will endear him to his new coach.

He's another player, much like Kadri, who isn't afraid to go to the "dirty" areas. While he played only nine NHL games, he earned a 52.0 CF percentage in 2014-15. He is well-suited to a bottom-six role with a Babcock-led team.

He should only improve over time. He's had 76 points in 115 AHL games, so don't expect him to be an offensive terror in the near future.

However, there are indications he could be something much more than an NHL grinder, given his ability to be a good puck-possession player with strong skating and puck-handling abilities. 

Morgan Rielly, Defenceman

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Morgan Rielly has the "it" factor. He has all of the tools to be a No. 1 NHL defender. These players are rare enough it can be argued several bottom-feeding teams don't have one.

Currently, the Leafs' de facto No. 1 has been Dion Phaneuf. That will change in the near future. Expect Rielly to be that guy, especially if he can be paired with a defensively minded partner with some experience.

Rielly is an electrifying player who is good enough to lead the rush and then get back to defend in his own end before his teammates arrive. His agility and puck-moving skills are elite. His CF percentage of 48.2 percent was just behind the team leaders, and he's only getting better.

Babcock is going to relish having the former WHL star. Rielly should move to at least the 40-point range next season, and he has a chance to be a Norris Trophy candidate in a few more seasons. 

Expect Rielly's game to blossom under Babcock's leadership.

All stats can be found on Puckalytics.com and hockeyDB.com.