The inevitable happened today. I knew Babcock would love this player. I think he is above Kapanen in Babcocks mind. Babcock admires hard working players and Hyman, Brown and Soshnikov have heard his praises publicly. Quote from yesterday, Babcock goes out of his way to mention Grundstrom. Leafs need a Grundstrom type player on Marner's line. Marner has never had that element so far as a pro.
“(Carl) Grundstrom looks like a real hockey player to me,” Babcock said of the forward. “Every day he has the puck, every day he skates faster than everyone else. Every day he is more physical and every day he shoots the puck in the net.
“Pretty soon even a smart guy like me catches on and goes, ‘Hey, this guy might be alright.’