It’s not just Patrick Marleau that has Mike Babcock excited, but the five other guys the Maple Leafs have signed as well: Ron Hainsey, Dominic Moore, Miro Aaltonen, Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman.

“I’m thrilled about all the additions,” Babcock said in a phone interview Monday. “That’s six additions we have an opportunity to have on our club that we never had a chance to a year ago. The other thing I like is they obviously think the team is good, or they wouldn’t be coming.

“That’s really positive for us.”

But Marleau’s signing, and all the other additions also raises the prospect of potential trades. Not counting injured players Joffrey Lupul and Nathan Horton, the Leafs have 15 forwards under contract, and two more — Connor Brown and Zach Hyman — needing deals. And that number doesn’t count Kasperi Kapanen, who looked like he was ready for the NHL this spring, or Aaltonen, the Finnish forward from the KHL who could play for the Marlies. That gets the Leafs to 18 or 19 NHL-calibre forwards, when they really need only 13.

Babcock brought up Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk and Leo Komarov.

“They’re real good players,” the coach said. “And two of them or . . . any way you look at it, we can’t all be on the team as we move ahead. It doesn’t work like that. We have to figure out a way when you have opportunities to do what you can.”

Most in hockey believe the Leafs will start peddling excess forwards for help on the blue line.

Trades of course are not the coach’s business. Babcock needs to think about getting the most out of the lineup. With that in mind, he canvassed his coaches to see what line combinations and defensive pairings they’d put together.

“It’s amazing how different it was,” said Babcock. “That means there’s good depth in the roster and that’s exciting.”

Of the new signings, Marleau’s is the name that stands out, an exclamation point after a season in which the Leafs made a statement about being a team on the rise.

“Marleau was brought in here to help our core grow, to help our young guys grow,” Babcock said. “At the same time, he can help the team win. But it’s about the growth of the mass of our group.”

Babcock has made no secret about how much he likes the veteran’s skill, speed, build, attitude and locker-room presence.

“Patty can play with and without the puck, on the power play, on the penalty kill, take left-handed faceoffs. He’s a good hockey player,” Babcock said. “But it’s not like he says a whole bunch leadership-wise. That’s not him at all. But he comes in and is a good pro every day. He really likes it.”

It also sounds as if Babcock is not worried if Marleau’s production drops off. He had 46 points last season, his lowest output in a non-lockout season since registering 40 points in 1999-2000.

“If he goes through stretches — and everybody does — where he’s not scoring, he’s still playing without the puck and he’s playing against the best players each and every night,” Babcock said. “When you talk about Marleau, I don’t know if he’s going to play with Kadri, or Bozak, or Matthews. They’re all good centres. We’ll figure it out.”

If there’s a concern out there, it’s the advanced age of the Leafs free-agent signings. Moore and Hainsey are 36. Marleau will be 38 by the time the puck drops on the 2017-18 season.

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“I think our young guys will be the fountain of youth for them,” Babcock said. “They can skate. You’re not old till your legs go. Everybody goes at a different time. But Patty is a great glider, same with Hainsey, same with Moore.

“We’re not concerned about that.”

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