Given JVR’s production at his age, his contract status… he’s aware of it that there’s going to be talk leading up to the trade deadline.
Babcock: I think there’s been a bunch of talk. There was a bunch of talk about him and [William Nylander] when we were in Calgary, somebody told me about. I just told them to play hard and don’t worry about it. We’re not looking to move those guys. One thing I know in sport is that the truth today isn’t the truth tomorrow. Don’t spend time worrying about that. Do good things and good things happen for you.
Do you find guys usually block that out?
Babcock: I think it’s different for each guy. I think it’s way different for a guy who is 19 or 20 or just arriving when they start making noise. As you know, you guys can make lots of noise.
Babcock on trade speculation regarding van Riemsdyk, Nylander: "We’re not looking to move those guys." #Leafs
— Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) December 5, 2016
Babcock on JVR & Nylander: "We're not looking to move those guys"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 5, 2016
Babcock spoke with JVR & Nylander about trade talk swirling in Calgary last week; Mike's message? "Just play hard & don't worry about it"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) December 5, 2016