Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock stands behind the bench as his team plays the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015 in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

ANAHEIM – James Reimer walked past coach Mike Babcock in the hallway at Honda Center.

Reimer and his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates were dressed California cool, most in T-shirts and jeans. They chomped on In-N-Out Burger as they exited the arena and headed into the bright sunshine. Reimer turned to Babcock and said, “the bus is leaving now.”

The coach smiled. "No, it’s not.”

The laid-back attitude is a far cry from a year ago with a group that experienced drama on an almost weekly basis, culminating with the fourth-worst record in the NHL. In its place is a culture, instilled by Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello, of trust and communication with players.

And some fun, something that's not exactly associated with either of them.

When the team wanted to leave Toronto early to take advantage of a few days in California, Lamoriello and Babcock obliged. The players wanted In-N-Out Burger, and the Maple Leafs brass had it waiting for them as they got off the ice.

“Trust is a big issue for us to keep maintaining that,” forward Nazem Kadri said. “The standards (above us) are high then the next thing you know guys’ standards are the same way and you compete against each other and it becomes second nature and you don’t have to have a constant reminder all the time.”

Just 37 games into Babcock and Lamoriello’s tenures with Toronto, the buy-in factor is both visible in practice, and those games. After starting the year 1-7-2, the Maple Leafs are 15-15-7. During the offseason the Maple Leafs added Babcock with a eight-year $50 million contract. Later in the summer they brought in Lamoriello as general manager in hopes the two could lift the fortunes of the sagging franchise that needed a more defined structure.

During a nearly hour-long skate at Honda Center on Monday, players stared attentively at Babcock as he talked to them. They battled each other in a drill in front of the Toronto net. Babcock finished practice by having players compete with one another on a skating drill.

Instead of having players line up for a "bag" skate, Babcock had them go one-on-one against each other. The drill worked as both motivation for the players to impress their coach and have some fun in the process.

“To race the guys, gets a little competitive so guys want to beat each other,” center Tyler Bozak said. “It’s just a little bit harder. It’s fun when you’re racing someone than if you’re just skating around in circles."

Lamoriello has been mostly behind the scenes, but players have appreciated his hands-on nature with them. Though he’s brought some of his rules from the New Jersey Devils – where he was the general manager for from 1987 until last summer – such as ensuring players have less facial hair, the Maple Leafs like that he listens to what they have to say.

“The GMs I’ve had around the past you don’t really see too much around the room, and stuff like that,” Kadri said. “Lou is always in and out, he’s always talking to guys and being super friendly and caring about you as a person, not just a number or a hockey player. It’s nice to see that.”

Babcock has been the face of the new Maple Leafs. He was brought in through a highly publicized courtship last spring after 10 years with the Detroit Red Wings. A Stanley Cup champion with Detroit and winner of two Olympic gold medals with Canada, Babcock hasn’t shunned the Toronto fishbowl. He’s embraced his celebrity as team savior without letting it be a distraction.

On Christmas, a photo was posted online of Babcock's household wearing Maple Leafs colored socks with his face drawn onto them. The items are called “Babsocks” and have become popular in the Toronto area.

“That was a Christmas party at my house in Michigan. Everyone who came to the Christmas party showed up in Babsocks,” Babcock said. “The reality of the situation is this: I enjoy what I do. I’m very blessed to have the wife and kids I have and the job I have in this business. I like players, I like being around them … living the dream, man.”

Coming to the team, he understood that the Leafs players had dealt with a high amount of criticism over the years. The confidence in the locker room was low and needed work. Even if they weren’t expected to compete for the playoffs this season, Babcock didn’t see the group as being as desolate as some described.

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