Few teaching selections have aged worse than when Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock engaged in his so-called “rookie take a look at” of Mitch Marner. It wasn’t simply awkward—it turned a flashpoint in how the NHL thinks about teaching, belief, and the therapy of younger gamers.
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Even years later, the story nonetheless resonates, each for what it reveals about Marner’s resilience and for what it uncovers about an old-school tradition that was lengthy overdue for change. Many nonetheless bear in mind the “take a look at,” however for individuals who don’t, right here’s the story.
The Maple Leafs Gamers’ Checklist That Crossed the Line
The story broke a few years after it occurred, however by then the harm was already baked into Maple Leafs lore. In Marner’s rookie season, Babcock requested him to create an inventory rating his teammates by how onerous they labored. Not a recreation effort. Not observe habits – only a normal sense of who gave probably the most.
Marner, simply 19 and making an attempt to impress, dutifully adopted orders. To indicate humility, he even put himself on the backside of the checklist. However then got here the twist—Babcock took that checklist and shared it with the veterans.
That’s the place issues went from misguided to merciless. A rookie making an attempt to remain afloat immediately appeared like he was evaluating gamers who had years of NHL expertise. He hadn’t volunteered this data. He hadn’t been informed how it could be used. He was blindsided.
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Teammates like Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak didn’t take it out on Marner. They knew who had crossed the road. Kadri later admitted he confronted Babcock straight: “You simply don’t do this to a rookie.” He was proper.
The Fallout for Babcock, and the Skinny Apology
When the story got here out in late 2019, shortly after Babcock was fired, the coach admitted it was a mistake. He claimed he apologized on the time. However even when he did, it got here throughout because the form of fast “let’s transfer on” apology that doesn’t handle the hurt accomplished.
Think about being in Marner’s place: a teen, model new to the league, immediately pressured to navigate a dressing room the place it appeared like he had criticized teammates behind their backs. That’s not a studying expertise—it’s a betrayal of belief. However, in the long run, did it assist anybody? Did it inspire Marner?
Did Marner Profit from Babcock?
On paper, Marner thrived below Babcock. He logged huge minutes, put up substantial numbers, and shortly turned one of many Maple Leafs’ most dynamic offensive gamers. However simply because somebody succeeds regardless of one thing doesn’t imply they succeeded due to it.
Babcock’s type was inflexible and uncompromising. He valued construction above all, which allowed him to work successfully with particular gamers. However relating to artistic, instinctive skills like Marner, squeezing them right into a mould dangers dulling the very spark that makes them particular.
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Marner finally flourished—however how a lot sooner, and the way rather more, may he have grown below a coach who constructed confidence as an alternative of confusion? It’s a query Maple Leafs followers can’t assist however ask.
Was The Babcock/Marner Incident a Turning Level in Hockey Tradition?
The Marner incident didn’t occur in a vacuum. Across the similar time, tales from different NHL groups started to floor about coaches who dominated with intimidation. The tradition of “toughening up the child” was lastly dealing with scrutiny. Gamers who as soon as stored quiet began to talk overtly. There have been different examples of participant bullying reported in NHL hockey.
Marner, to his credit score, by no means piled on. He stayed diplomatic, saying his relationship with Babcock improved and inspired others to “converse their fact.” Coming from a participant who as soon as prevented saying the fallacious factor in a gathering, that shift says so much about his progress.
Why This Maple Leafs Incident Nonetheless Issues
It’s tempting to chalk the entire saga up as an odd footnote: a rookie prank gone fallacious, everybody shifting on. However that misses the larger level. What occurred wasn’t only a case of unhealthy judgment—it mirrored a training philosophy that wanted to be modified.
Hockey has since made important progress. Coaches are being requested to construct belief as a lot as methods. Groups speak extra overtly about psychological well being. And gamers, even the youngest ones, really feel extra empowered to push again when one thing isn’t proper.
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Marner’s profession didn’t stall due to Babcock’s checklist. Nevertheless it’s truthful to surprise how a lot smoother his path may have been with out that baggage. If nothing else, his expertise turned a part of the dialog that prompted hockey to reassess what constitutes good management.
As a result of in right this moment’s NHL, it isn’t sufficient to attract up methods and demand compliance. Teaching is about folks, too. And the Marner story stays a reminder of what occurs when that fact will get misplaced.
[Note: I’d like to thank Brent Bradford (PhD) for his help co-authoring this post. His profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bradford-phd-3a10022a9]
