Mike Babcock

[Artorius Horus T]

His last (and only) SC he won was 11 years ago, with a team that was almost an All-Star level team
his national team success, well... 2 Olympic golds, Olympic team rosters are always All-Star level rosters. (usually)

Has Babcock ever been a great coach? Is he the most overpaid coach at the moment?

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

his post-game presser was interesting.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

The defense wasn't the difference maker in the series, the lack of effective special teams (PK and PP) were. Did you watch any of the games?

Defense is the reason the 1st and 2nd GWG were scored tonight

Were YOU watching? Or is this denial?

 

[tapi]

It's time for Babcock to go. He managed to lose with the easily best roster to an old Bruins team in a series that should have been Torontos all the way. Get Quinneville in the offseason and the Cup should be forthcoming next spring.

 

[Canadian Game]

Leafs did well just to get to 7 games. Babcock isn't a problem.

On the other hand, he hasn't exactly got the Leafs anywhere aside from the playoffs. Seven games doesn't matter if they can't get into the semi-finals. In game 6 and 7 he made some questionable decisions in the most critical games. The biggest being pulling Andersen in game 6 without possession in the Bruins end, and limiting Matthews' minutes late in game 7. I think it's worth the Leafs at least evaluating his performance rather than giving him a free pass.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

You don't fire a coach based on a 1 game sample, or even a 7 game sample. Not to mention a 7 game sample where you make a very even series against a team that everyone seems to universally agree is better than you.

You absolutely don't fire a a head coach over a 7 game sample. The problem is it's not a 7 game sample it's now 3 years running he as well as the team just hasn't been good enough. The leafs powerplay this hear was also bad considering the personnel. You atleast have to dump the assistants to shake things up.

 

[c9777666]

Same thing with John Cooper- who's the guy that you can get to replace him? Where's the slam dunk candidate?

 

[AlmightyPO]

Same thing with John Cooper- who's the guy that you can get to replace him? Where's the slam dunk candidate?

May not be a "slam dunk candidate" but if Babs goes he will be replaced by Sheldon Keefe.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Same thing with John Cooper- who's the guy that you can get to replace him? Where's the slam dunk candidate?

There isnt one currently that's why they should keep him fire his assistants responsible for pk and pp and trade the players who don't fit what your trying to build.

 

[ijuka]

leafs defense is awful. everyone tried to say they weren't going to get far because of it and everyone, once again, was right

Islanders' as well, but somehow they allow the least goals in NHL. Oh yeah, they got a good coach.

 

[yegoldboysclub]

Babcock and Dubas will be gone. I wouldn't be surprised if Matthews asks for trade, he will not want to waste his career with this club.

Dubas is worst gm in NHL now. His body of work is a disaster.

 

[Shaman464]

Dubas should be out long before Babcock. Dubas gave a coach who is known for preaching team defense and rolling 4 lines a top heavy, run and gun team. Its a square peg in a round hole.

 

[TSN Jdog]

Mike Babcock I feel has worn out his time here in Toronto. This team needs some kind of change and it seems like moving on from Babs would be best for the organization.

Nylander had a rough series but in his defense he had to center the some guy claiming to be Patrick Marleau and Connor Brown. I think a lot of people need to tone back the Nylander hate, he's had a down swing shooting % wise this year. He shot a 5.8 when through his pro career he's been a 9.8. Numbers say he'll be better next year. Remember Babcocks first season in charge where Kadri could not buy a goal? Naz shot a 6.5% that year. Nylander just had a snake bitten year.

Speaking of Kadri, I think he's done a Leaf. The untimely suspensions are really a breaking point. Let Nylander take his 3rd C spot next year and move him on for some prospect, Cap space or help on the back end.

Tavares may not of put up points but he played solid against the Bruins, he was always in the right spot and making smart plays, just bounces didn't go his way.

Marner, see Tavares, also wouldn't surprise me if Mitch got hurt in game 2 or 3.

 

[ijuka]

Dubas should be out long before Babcock. Dubas gave a coach who is known for preaching team defense and rolling 4 lines a top heavy, run and gun team. Its a square peg in a round hole.

You forgot that Babcock upon accepting the job talked constantly about making the team all about speed and skill?

The team shouldn't be tailored for Babcock in the first place. He's not Dubas's coach and if he can't coach Dubas's team, he should be replaced with someone who can.

 

[Deadpool8812]

It's time for Babcock to go. He managed to lose with the easily best roster to an old Bruins team in a series that should have been Torontos all the way. Get Quinneville in the offseason and the Cup should be forthcoming next spring.

So Q is just going to leave FLA after just being hired by them?

 

[Shaman464]

You forgot that Babcock upon accepting the job talked constantly about making the team all about speed and skill?

The team shouldn't be tailored for Babcock in the first place. He's not Dubas's coach and if he can't coach Dubas's team, he should be replaced with someone who can.

No one will be able to coach Dubas's team past the first round. Its poorly constructed. Firing Babcock without evaluating how the team is constructed is just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

 

[Shaman464]

So Q is just going to leave FLA after just being hired by them?

After Babcock gets run out of Toronto by angry leafs fans with torches why wouldn't Q want to break his newly signed contract to coach the Leafs?

 

[c9777666]

I wonder how easy it's gonna be to possibly find a new coach.

Sometimes, you make the wrong hire.

Doesn't always have to be the experience guy (See: Mike Keenan, Calgary)

 

[McDavidCrushedLarkin]

Babcock and Dubas from 1st to worst oh how the mighty have fallen! Let that be a lesson on overrating everything to enter Toronto.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

He's living off of 10 years ago when he had stacked Detroit teams.

 

[who_me?]

Babcock and Dubas will be gone. I wouldn't be surprised if Matthews asks for trade, he will not want to waste his career with this club.

Dubas is worst gm in NHL now. His body of work is a disaster.

Good news is that once Dubas is fired then Nylander can be traded.

 

[c9777666]

Sometimes, it depends on right place right time or wrong place wrong time.

Look at Bruce Cassidy in Washington- on paper, even these Bruins aren't as stacked as those Caps in terms of marquee value. Yet one team is going farther.....

 

[SlickHands]

His last (and only) SC he won was 11 years ago, with a team that was almost an All-Star level team
his national team success, well... 2 Olympic golds, Olympic team rosters are always All-Star level rosters. (usually)

Has Babcock ever been a great coach? Is he the most overpaid coach at the moment?

It wasn't just all-star level. That Wings team was probably one of the easiest to coach in history. Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Zetterberg as your core. Virtually every guy on that team could play each end of the ice on an elite level.

And you sure as hell can't coach what Giguere did to get his Ducks team to the finals in 03. That was easily the best playoff run I've ever seen from a goalie.

 

[Ishad]

Please keep him for 1 more year so we can trade you Luke Glendening for an obscene price and watch Babcock play him 18 minutes a game.

 

[lomiller1]

Completely neutered the offense by having a bottom six player on every line

Hockey is a strong link game not a weak link game. Distributing talent throughout your lineup is more effective than concentrating it all on one line.
Strong and Weak Links: Talent Distribution within Teams
Identifying Playing Styles with Clustering

If you want the old school explanation, there is only one puck so the more skill players you use together the less any of them can have the puck. Unless you have 12 highly skilled forwards, you're better off using a less skilled guy as a puck retriever to get the puck for the more skilled one. It's stuff like this that had Babcock still making the playoffs with a broken down Red Wings roster that was immediately one of the worst in the NHL once he left.

 

[WillTheThrill]

Why not blame the team too? Too small, too soft and not built for the playoffs. It starts with Dubas.

How can you watch that series and say this. Leafs were just as physical all series long.