"They've got to get to know me, and I've got to get to know them."

That is how Mike Babcock opened his first media availability of the season in a Leafs cap, not Team Canada.  After he throttled the lid of his water bottle, as is his standard opening move.

In his post practice stand up pressers, he always looks like he was doing the line rushes, not calling the names.  Jim Hiller looked the same in his.  Leafs practices are, as reported by many, short, sharp and revved up.

Babcock had a very sharp blade today.

"Last year we could check the puck back, but when we got the puck, we didn't know what to do with it."

"Last year they didn't have a clue how you wanted to play, at least lots of them do [now]."

His praise feels like a pat on the back followed by a hard check into the boards.

About Marner: "He has the puck lots, which is real positive. I've enjoyed watching him thus far."

But then he offers us this caution, one we should all listen to.

"As you go on, they're going to end up in some games against NHL D-men.  So, you learn more in those situations."

About Matthews with Nylander on the wing:  "They're both good young players."

Followed up by: "They both think they're the best player. So, let's find out who is, and they can compete all the time there."

Now for the game tactics, which is identical to Bill Peters’ ideas for his stacked with centres lineup in Carolina: "One can take right-hand faceoffs, one can take left-hand faceoffs.  They both can play down low in their zone."

And then the killer line: "And Hyman's just a worker.  If either one of them can work as hard as Hyman, I'll be pumped."

I'm not sure how we'll know he's pumped. He'll be a touch less blunt?

Speaking of blunt, he gave a little summary of Matthews' now famous Team North America performance. This is a blast of cold water that we could all stand to take to heart.

"In the World Cup, [Matthews] didn't have to play down low in his own zone.  And when you go through the matchups, they didn't play McDavid in a head to head matchup."

In other words, it wasn't a full on tough test against the elite of the NHL.

Which brings us to how he sees first line or second or third for Matthews.

"[Matthews] is going to decide whether they match up against him or Bozak or Kadri when you're on the road.  If he's our best player, they're going to match up head to head against him."

He had the mic drop line near the end: "I just think we should get used to winning around here instead of used to losing."  But he went on to explain a little and trumped himself.

"Everyone thinks they're good.  Let's find out."

Yeah, let's.