Mike Babcock is looking for Maple Leafs centre Nazem Kadri to have the best season of his career — if he trains right.

“I expect him to be an elite player,” Babcock said of Kadri on Monday.

Kadri, 24, signed a one-year contract Sunday, which some view as a kind of probationary deal for the extremely talented, but sometimes troubled centre. Babcock thinks the short-term deal will work in Kadri’s favour.

“It’s a home run for him,” said the new Leafs coach. “He gets to come in and have a heck of a year and put the screws to us. Why wouldn’t he? If I’m him, I’m going to have the best year of my career because I’m training the way I should and living the way I should, then why wouldn’t I have a short-term deal?”

Kadri finished as the team’s fourth-leading scorer, with 18 goals and 39 points — two goals and 11 points fewer than his career-best season in 2013-14. He was also suspended by the team for undisclosed off-ice transgressions.

Babcock said the key for Kadri — like the rest of the team — is training.

“His training has got to match his skill set,” said Babcock. “That’s to all our guys. You can’t take the summer off. I expect our best players to be our hardest working people to set the tone flat out. I’ve told them all that. They understand that. That’s what they need to do.

“This is a big two-and-a-half months for us.”

Babcock was at the MasterCard Centre helping a Leafs hockey camp for young players.

Shortly after Babcock spoke to the media, the team announced the club has signed forward Mississauga native Shawn Matthias to a one-year contract. Matthias, 27, skated with the Vancouver Canucks last season and finished tied for third in goals scored (18) while collecting a total of 27 points and 16 penalty minutes.

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