A couple of years ago, while doing an interview for a book project, Toronto coach Mike Babcock shared why he stressed to GM Lou Lamoriello that the front office should constantly be looking to add talent to an already large group. Babcock’s Maple Leafs weren’t the Stanley Cup contenders they are now, but he knew it was coming and he realized, with that, came an exodus of talent.



“I keep saying to Lou, ‘We have to build a bigger power team because they’re going to take our people,’” Babcock said that morning. “Build a power team.”



He wasn’t talking about on the ice. He was talking about off it. And when you look at the front-office team assembled in Toronto, the Maple Leafs have certainly done that. There’s experience in Lamoriello. Kyle Dubas is one of hockey’s sharpest young minds and forward-thinkers. Brandon Pridham is a salary-cap savant; Mark Hunter an elite evaluator of talent.



If...