A little more than a month after signing with the Leafs, Babcock tried to influence who the team would take with its first pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, according to multiple team sources.
Mark Hunter, the Leafs assistant general manager, lobbied for Mitchell Marner of the OHL's London Knights, which Hunter co-owns. Babcock made it clear to others in the team's hockey operations that he wanted a different player. Despite Babcock's objections, the Leafs selected Marner fourth overall.
After the first period of Marner's first preseason game, Babcock approached him in the tunnel and abruptly told him he was being sent back to junior — rather than sharing the news in a private meeting. Babcock's approach, relaying the disappointing news after a single period, was viewed by some in the organization as unprofessional and callous.
