ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

Mike Babcock’s wife might not have known what was going on, but the Toronto Maple Leafs head coach watched last month’s NHL Draft Lottery like most Canadians — sitting on the edge of his seat at his lakehouse, with his eyes fixed on the television, living and dying with each pick.

“When we got in the top three I had my hands in the air,” Babcock said during a one-on-one interview with Postmedia after watching Canada defeat Slovakia 5-0 Saturday at the world hockey championship.

“I thought it was unbelievable and then obviously when we were set up to be No. 1 it was a real big thing for our franchise. There’s real good players and you get the chance to select a player that’s going to make a real difference, both as a human being and as a player in our city. And I think it gives our fans hope, which is so important.”

The lottery win was a game-changer.

And Babcock, who never had to worry about watching draft lotteries in his previous job, knows it. In Detroit, he usually had to wait around for two, three or sometimes five years before a draft pick made it to the NHL in a tangible role.

Now, the team can add a franchise player that the Leafs will see in the line-up immediately.

“One of the other stories I’ll tell you from that night is that my wife said to me, ‘I didn’t even know there was a lottery,’” said Babcock. “And I said, ‘That’s because we were coaching the Red Wings. How would you know there was a lottery for 10 years if we weren’t concerned about it?’”

That’s where Babcock is trying to get to with the Leafs — where terms like draft lotteries and tanking are not part of the lexicon. But right now, the Leafs need this pick.

Unlike the Winnipeg Jets, who moved up four spots from sixth to second overall, Toronto was the worst team in the NHL this season. They might have been guilty of tanking, but as Babcock said “it wasn’t a lost season.” Some good happened, with regards to the on-ice development of Morgan Rielly and Nazem Kadri.

But the team needs to keep adding young players. And while a player such as Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine might not speed up the rebuild, at the very least he should ensure that the construction gets done on time.

“Becoming a really good team in the National Hockey League that’s expected to win each and every year is a long process,” he said. “We’re in mile 20 of that process, but I think a lot of good things had happened to set that up.”

Babcock arrived to Russia Saturday on behalf of both the Leafs and Team Canada, where he is serving as the head coach for the World Cup of Hockey. He said he has been watching Matthews and Laine play on TV, but was excited to see them live when the U.S. plays Germany and Finland plays Slovakia on Sunday.

Both have been spectacular so far at this tournament, especially considering they are 18 years old and haven’t played a single game in the NHL. Laine is tied for second in scoring with five goals and nine points in five games, while Matthews has two goals and three assists on a very young and inexperienced American team.

“Elite players,” said Babcock. “We’re going to have a big decision in the end. It’s exciting for us. We’ve all spent a long time watching these players. (Head scout Mark Hunter), in the end, that’s why we pay him the big bucks, to make that decision. I’m sure we’ll all have some input. But we’re excited.”

Babcock did not break down each player’s game or say whether as a head coach he would prefer a centre (Matthews) or a winger who is a sniper (Laine). But along with third-overall prospect Jesse Puljujarvi, he believes “the top three guys will play in the league for sure, without any question.”

In saying that, Babcock immediately stressed the need for patience. Getting the No. 1 pick does not mean that Toronto instantly upgrades its status to Stanley Cup contender — or even a playoff team.

Whoever the Leafs choose is going to play for them next season, but Babcock added “In saying that they’re going to be dominant players right away — I’m not saying that at all. But they’re going to be good players.”

Along with Matthews or Laine, the team could have a bevy of rookies in the line-up, including William Nylander, Mitch Marner, Zach Hyman and Nikita Soshnikov. There is obviously going to be growing pains, but Babcock said Toronto is going to make sure “those guys are looked after.”

“I don’t think you want to feed them to the wolves, by any means.”

mtraikos@postmedia.com

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