What Babcock did was horrible, but he essentially just embarrassed him in front of his teammates, to call it psychological abuse might be pushing it a bit. Just looking at our team, I don't think Hall, Subban or Greene would cry if put in this position, but I could see Hughes being embarrassed enough to. The biggest difference? Age.
All speculation admittedly, but, IMO he was still a child at that point, that's all.
I think most agree Babcock is a dick and that was a ****ty move, but if the only argument now keeping it alive is whether or not Marner was a child, I'm fine with backing down to end this.