Babcock would prefer fewer back-to-backs over bye week

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has offered an alternative to this season's implemented bye week.

The Maple Leafs bench boss - whose team will return to action on Friday after enjoying their five-day break - insists he would prefer a less condensed schedule over a week off.

"I'd rather have four less back-to-backs, but that's the way life is," Babcock said, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen.

Earlier in the month Babcock admitted that he felt that the bye week was dangerous for players. Meanwhile on Wednesday, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall called the bye-week schedule "the most asinine thing" he's ever seen as the Flyers will play a set of back-to-back games prior and upon returning from their bye week.

The Maple Leafs will have played on back-to-back nights for a league-high 18 times when the season concludes.