Babcock unsure why Marner wasn't cleared to play Saturday night

Mike Babcock isn't a doctor, he just plays one on TV.

The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach can't seem to figure out why injured forward Mitch Marner was ruled out of Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens.

"It looked to me like he was the best player out there today," Babcock told reporters, according to TSN's Kristen Shilton. "I don't know why he's not dressed tonight."

Marner took part in the morning skate wearing a black jersey normally reserved for defensemen. It was his first time on the ice with the full team since he was hurt in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets last week.

The first-year phenom will miss his fifth consecutive game with the undisclosed ailment, yet he still ranks third among rookies with 48 points and fifth in the class with 15 goals.

As much as Babcock wants to get Marner back in the lineup, the medical staff exists for a reason, and the team doctors should be trusted enough to not have their decisions questioned, regardless of the head coach's assessment.