Do you guys think Dubas actually has the power to fire Babcock?
If not then he's not a true GM as far as I'm concerned. The coach can't have more power than the GM in any successful team. GM's typically like to bring in their own coach as well. If they don't make it to the second round next year I think Babcock's job will be in jeopardy.
A lot of people have claimed Babcock got out coached, he hasn't won a round in the playoffs in x number of years, 8 or 9 I think? Albeit the wings took a huge nose dive talent wise once Lidstrom retired(OBVIOUSLY.) but still not a good stat to have on your resume. Overplaying Anderson even though a playoff spot was locked up is another thing people have doubts about...the use of Leivo, etc.
The possible power struggle within the organization combined with the rumored rift between Babs and Matthews should make things very interesting moving forward. As much as Babcock has helped the rebuild I'm not convinced he's the coach to take the team to the top. Babcock may be too old school for this era. He's very hard on his players, does that work nowadays?
I'd prefer Dubas to have full autonomy to make a coaching change if he sees fit but I don't think that's the case.
In his press conference, Dubas used the expression of "leading the organization" which sounds an awful lot like his opinion within a collegial environment has the effective weight of any GM in any NHL organization, save those with multiple titles above GM.
As for Babcock's job being in jeopardy should the club not make it to the second round...Again, from the press conference, Dubas is fully aware that there established teams who will continue to challenge for the Cup (i.e. Tampa Bay) and there are those teams that are either alongside us or not far behind and rising (i.e. Florida). It could be Toronto doesn't make it out of the first round given the competition is simply better than where the club might be. It's a long process. Something everyone in the Toronto Maple Leafs repeats consistently.
What is about limiting the necessary time it will take us to arrive at that point that is so attractive to some?
One thing I suspect is crystal clear, is that Dubas requires Shanahan's participation in any major movement whomever the person is, coming in or leaving Toronto as a decision in Dubas' control.
As I noted in another thread, Dubas has extensive hockey managerial knowledge. His age is less an indicator of how much experience a typical manager has and more of an outlier that indicates that all Dubas does and has done since he was eleven revolves around managing hockey assets.
There will be no "power struggle" because both principals in your example, ultimately answer to the man that hired them: Brendan Shanahan.
