Ok so I understand now Babs logic of not scratching these guys or putting them on the 4th line.
Babs whole message is "good pro" which doesn't just mean putting up points, it means off the ice treating your diet seriously, working hard in the gym and following all instructions, being kind to fans, giving back to the community, etc.
So let's talk about the off ice stuff here. Marleau and Brown are both gym rats. Both are "good pro's". Babs believes that having a certain amount of these guys on the team will ignite the competitive nature of these other players like Nylander and Matthews to push harder because they know they are better and don't want to be shown up.
All good in theory.
The issue arises when they underperform on the ice. How do you preach forever about good pro and doing it right, and then scratch your shining examples or have them on the 4th line? Doesn't that send the wrong message to Matthews and Nylander that skill is what matters at the end of the day, not hard work?
Now, these guys aren't dumb. They know these guys have regressed or are just sucking. Babs doesn't want his message to be undermined so he stays on the rudder hoping they turn it around.
However this also causes a guy like Matthews to think that Babcock is an idiot. If it's clear as day to everyone who the best players are, and Babcock tries to say with a straight face (in order to keep his message) that these guys are important, logically you can only assume that Babcock will be biased in all of his other messages to you. So what is the reality?
From Matthews perspective, he has already earned the praise and respect of the best of the best. He signed a deal making him the 2nd highest cap hit in the league and highest overall contract value. He did all of this without the hunting channel or listening to country music.
I understand now why certain players don't like him. He pushes you and expects you to take what he says at face value and just do it. There are other guys out there who don't like the constant feeling of him breathing down your neck, and some of them think they are smarter than Babs is.
Which is understandable. Has anyone ever tried having their parents explain something to them that is completely wrong? You know how you feel? Now imagine everyone to talk to about it says to just listen and do what he says.
Then give that years to evolve from an annoyance to dread of having to work with him.