Is Fleury's save responsible for Babcock's dismissal?

[illpucks]

Is the Fleury save responsible for Babcock getting fired? If the Leafs win that game is he safe?

Trotz was very close to getting fired at one point on the Caps but because he won the game, they didn't pull the switch.

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[NyQuil]

The implication that Babcock will never coach again is bizarre.

 

[Satoru Gojo]

Nah I think they had pretty much made up their mind after Saturday

 

[Jyrki Lumme]

Well he wouldn't have been fired if they'd won. But the only way he'd stay safe from being fired is if they went on a roll afterwards and made up lost ground.

Interesting to think what would have happened if Toronto had started playing mediocre, just well enough to keep Babcock's job, but not well enough to climb the standings. I don't think the team was ever going to succeed this season with Babcock as the coach, but with a change in coaching they could. If Toronto can get going now, it's possible that Fleury save could save Toronto's season in some ironic way.

 

[cgf]

Babcock's refusal to adapt was responsible for his dismissal.

 

[ccman68]

Would think not but with Dumbass you never know.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

I think so. He lets that one in, leafs probably win in OT, go on a winning streak, beat the Bruins in the playoffs and the Oilers for the Cup. Babcock wins Jack Adams.

Big save.

 

[BruinsFan37]

Yes, but only till the next time they lose. A coach is usually either fired at the end of the season or after a loss. Firing a coach after a win doesn't happen that often.

 

[tony d]

Yeah, that save really sealed the deal for Babcock in Toronto.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Only people who think so are non Leaf fans. Writing was on the wall after the Pens game not the Vegas game.

 

[illpucks]

Only people who think so are non Leaf fans. Writing was on the wall after the Pens game not the Vegas game.

Then why not just pull the trigger then?

 

[Sheppy]

Nah. It wasn't he was going regardless I think.

 

[Kamiccolo]

Then why not just pull the trigger then?

I don't know, I am not a fly on the wall. Speculation is that it's because the Leafs are on a big road trip and were hoping they would rebound enough that he would last until they came back to TO. It's a tough spot to ask a rookie coach to step in on the road, in a big losing streak, with no practice time and a tired team from travel.

But it's clear this was not a one moment firing, and was even stated in the presser Dubas and Shanny gave. They sited the frustration and lack of belief in the room as the reason.

What they did to KK last Sat is much worse than a career AHL tweener getting robbed by Fleury

 

[The Macho King]

They just would have waited for the next loss.

 

[ijuka]

You don't make such decisions based on 1 save.

 

[IceNeophyte]

He was never on the hotseat until that save. (facepalm)

Really, he was out, maybe not yesterday, but soon.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Mike Babcock is responsible for Mike Babcock's dismissal.

 

[HanSolo]

Yes, but only till the next time they lose. A coach is usually either fired at the end of the season or after a loss. Firing a coach after a win doesn't happen that often.

Anaheim did it to Carlyle

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

I feel Leafs players might have been losing on purpose in order to get him fired.

 

[bobc222]

Most ridiculous poll of all time. NHL GMs aren't as reactionary and myopic as OP. One play/one game are never the "reason", there's a difference between underlying and precipitating causes.

 

[IslesBro715]

ummm, what?

 

[illpucks]

Most ridiculous poll of all time. NHL GMs aren't as reactionary and myopic as OP. One play/one game are never the "reason", there's a difference between underlying and precipitating causes.

See Barry Trotz. There were games that if he didn't win he was being fired but magically survived because Caps had come from behind victory

 

[Kelly]

I'm pretty sure it was reported that after the loss on Saturday to Pittsburgh his fate was all but sealed.

 

[illpucks]

I'm pretty sure it was reported that after the loss on Saturday to Pittsburgh his fate was all but sealed.

So if Leafs beat Vegas 7-0 and Matthews has a 6 point game, after the game Leafs fire Babcock? Seems absurd. It's game by game.

 

[Kranix]

Good mulletman-type thread