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While many of the Toronto Maple Leafs players are heading home after a long and arduous season, head coach Mike Babcock is heading to the 2017 World Championships in Cologne, Germany and Paris, France that begins next week.

“I’m going to the World Championships, there’s a few players (that) we’ve identified that I want to see.” Babcock said at his season-ending press availability on Tuesday. “Whatever hockey opportunity we have, I’ll be at to get prepared for next year.”

Babcock went to the Worlds in Russia last May to get a look at future #1 pick Auston Matthews, and is hoping to find another gem like Nikita Zaitsev to bring back from Europe.

One possible target of Babcock’s interest defenseman Calle Rosen. According to David Alter and Scott Powers of The Athletic, the Maple Leafs and Chicago Blackhawks have interest in the 23-year-old blueliner, who will play for Sweden in the upcoming tournament.



The 6’0’, 174 lb Rosen is a left-handed offensive-minded defenseman who plays for Vaxjo HC of the Swedish Hockey League and improved to 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) and +19 in his second season.

As with Zaitsev, the undrafted free agent would be limited to an entry-level contract of $925,000 and with the thin free agent market this summer, NHL teams will be scouring the European leagues and willing to take chances on players that may be able contribute and also be cost-effective.

The Hawks and Leafs are looking for depth on defense with veterans Johnny Oduya, Brian Campbell, Roman Polak and Matt Hunwick unrestricted free agents this summer and Rosen displays skating ability necessary to play in the NHL.

Polak and Hunwick both indicated on Tuesday that they would be interested in returning to Toronto, but GM Lou Lamoriello and Babcock said that the Leafs would be looking to upgrade at a number of positions during the off-season.

Toronto has also been connected to 23-year-old KHLer Vladimir Tkachev, who scored 15 goals for Ak-Bars Kazan this season, but the 6’0” 203 lb forward did not get selected by Russia for the Worlds. His unrelated namesake (who plays for Vladivostok of the KHL) was selected.

Colin Greening finds the back of the net 45 seconds into overtime to give the @TorontoMarlies a 2-1 series lead. #TORvsALB pic.twitter.com/QShLwV628E

— AHL (@TheAHL) April 27, 2017

Marlies forward Colin Greening scores early in overtime to give Toronto a 3-2 victory over Albany and a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five series.

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TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Thursday that the Leafs are closing in on signing 2016 second round pick Carl Grundstrom to a three-year entry-level deal.

The 19-year-old Grundstrom scored 14 goals for Frolunda of the SHL this season and was on Sweden’s top line at the 2017 World Junior Tournament in Montreal and Toronto last January.

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