Report: Babcock reaches out to Granato about joining him in Toronto

Mike Babcock appears to have his eyes on an old assistant coach.

The freshly-minted head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs has reached out to Tony Granato, who served as Babcock's assistant last season with the Detroit Red Wings, according to Damien Cox of Sportsnet.

The Red Wings, however, are reportedly interested in retaining Granato's services.

Granata spent three season as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche before serving as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Red Wings.

Jim Hiller, another of Babcock's assistants in Detroit, is also expected to join him behind the bench in Toronto.