LONDON, Ont. — A lot has changed since we last chatted with Mike Babcock, including the departures of Lou Lamoriello and Mark Hunter from the Maple Leafs front office, leaving the NHL’s highest-paid coach with a new GM in Kyle Dubas.



Babcock insisted Monday before a Hockey Canada Foundation gala dinner, where he was being honoured alongside Danielle Goyette and Ryan Smyth as this year’s class of the Order of Hockey Canada, that he embraces change and is absolutely ready to work with Dubas.



It was no secret that Babcock had developed a very close relationship with Lamoriello, but the Leafs coach understands the decisions made by team president Brendan Shanahan.



“The big thing is, Shanny, Hunts and Dubie hired me; Lou wasn’t there when they hired me,” Babcock told The Athletic. “Lou came and joined us later and it was a great thing. He’s a great man and he’ll be a friend forever. I’ve been real...