Babcock envisions Maple Leafs following similar path as Blackhawks
Aim high.
No team has reached the level of success achieved by the Chicago Blackhawks over the past decade, with three Stanley Cups to their credit since 2010.
It all began with a series of down years and high draft picks, giving Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock a vision of the path he sees his team heading down.
Mike Babcock: "To be honest with ya, I’m hoping we’re a lot like Chicago was (in '09 when Hawks made conf final in Kane, Toews 2nd yr)" pic.twitter.com/u59jHFBVG1
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 22, 2016
Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane joined the team in 2007 after respectively being selected third and first overall in consecutive drafts. Sure enough, the Blackhawks advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2009, losing to Babcock's Red Wings in five games.
That, of course, was just the beginning.
Clearly there's great potential for success in Toronto, with a roster built around the likes of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and Mitch Marner.
Whether the Maple Leafs can rise as high as the Blackhawks - let alone stay there over the course of multiple seasons - remains to be seen.
The two clubs will face off in Chicago on Saturday.