Why is Mike Babcock being made the scapegoat for the Maple Leaf's problems?

[Rehabguy]

He's one of the most successful coaches in North American Hockey, the coach who holds the record for most wins as the Red Wings coach, numerous Stanley Cup Finals appearances, and took the Red Wings to the playoffs every year he was coach there. Within 2 years of taking over the reigns in Toronto he brought the team to its highest points total in franchise history. The problem with the Leafs appear to be gutless, heartless, spoiled young players and an inexperienced foolish GM. Sad that he's being made the scapegoat. I think they are doing him a favor if they were to let him go.

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[jetsforever]

Rule 1: Always blame the coach first.

 

[Apotheosis]

Because he's been a first round exit in 6 of the last 9 times he's been in the playoffs and forces a failing system on a team that is built on transition and speed, not dumping the puck in. The game has passed him.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

When was the last time Babcock had any sort of playoff success?

 

[Contenderorpretender]

Babcock is a gud pro

 

[Boud]

Because he's a dinosaur and thinks he knows everything when he has a hard time making line combinations.

 

[DrewGl]

B/C he's the coach I'd imagine. If his plan isn't working or if the team has bailed on him it's usually time to go.

 

[unicornpig]

Think he's probably most overrated coach in the league but think the maple leafs issues are more to do with the players and gm imo.

 

[Governor]

His usage of the goalies seem to be quite baffling.

 

[eviohh26]

He loses locker rooms. His time in Det was at a end. Datsyuk and Zetterberg were bumping heads alot with him. Looks the same in Toronto .

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

because it's simply easier than assuming all the players and GM are gutless losers and getting rid of them all to keep on Babcock. The results aren't good enough for how the roster looks, so it's hard to say it's working as of now

 

[GrizzGreen]

He can have a fine track record as a coach and still not be a good fit.

 

[voxel]

Easy scapegoat when the real issues run deeper - poorly constructed roster that can’t handle injuries to top offensive talent (same with my Oilers). i.e He can’t be blamed for not signing a backup.

 

[D Wakaluk]

Because they are trying to play his system and clearly it's not working anymore.

Keep on rolling those lines Babcock and throwing the backup to the wolves

 

[eviohh26]

It did work in STL last year tho. JUST SAYING .

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Is it safe to compare his 2008 Stanley cup championship to Carlyle's 2007 stanley cup championship ?
Because how can you not win with these 3 in ur top 4D: Lidstrom, Rafalski & Kronwall in 2008 compared to Niedermayer, Pronger & Beauchemin in 2007.
Lidstrom & Niedermayer were the leagues top Offensive Dmen who actually played Defense unlike Burns, Karlsson, Subban etc

 

[Kamiccolo]

Is this the part where people who don't watch the games try and tell people the team doesn't look like they have quit on the coach? That a back to back 100 point team went to an 80 point team with all of the core in tact? These problems started last spring. It's coaching, we all knew it last year.

Maybe this is not the best team or 5th best, but it is a much better team than they have played.

 

[Muikea Bulju]

Babcock isn't the problem.

He might not be great, and he might not be the solution, but he also isn't the problem

The problem is the extremely top-heavy roster, with all the most expensive guys being forwards.

If some of the 4 expensive guys suck or get injured, the team is not gonna be winning.

Fire Dubas. He is the culprit. He has already done the damage, and you can't just make those contracts disappear, but firing him would stop him from making similar dumb moves in the future.

 

[Dr Pepper]

Bad coach, stubborn decision making.

Every single back to back the Leafs have, he starts Andersen in the first game.

Every single time.

Regardless of opponent.

It has yet to work, as the Leafs lose the second game every single time. Lately they just end up losing both.

He never accepts blame for his team's shortcomings, which are usually a result of his poor roster management..

A coach getting paid what Babcock is getting paid, should have a lot more to show than the absolutely nothing he's accomplished over five years here in Toronto.

He's done nothing. At all.

That's why he gets rightly criticized

 

[sansabri]

easier to fire the head coach than the whole team

 

[Muikea Bulju]

Is this the part where people who don't watch the games try and tell people the team doesn't look like they have quit on the coach? That a back to back 100 point team went to an 80 point team with all of the core in tact? These problems started last spring. It's coaching, we all knew it last year.

Maybe this is not the best team or 5th best, but it is a much better team than they have played.

Kadri is gone, a load of guys went to Ottawa, Sparks is gone, Marner is hurt, Tavares is cold.

So no, the roster is not the same, the core is not the same.

 

[LeHab]

Rule 1: Always blame the coach first.

If you have an employee under performing it's an employee problem. If the whole team of employees under performs then it's a management problem.

 

[GreytWun]

As a Wings fan Babcock is overrated. Detroit fan base warned Leafs what to expect but got laughed at saying we were bitter and angry because he left. Good riddance.

 

[SimpleJack]

Signing Tavares was beyond stupid.

Already had a deep, talented, high scoring group of forwards.

Already had a face of the franchise 1C in Matthews

Clearly needed a defensive minded top pairing defenseman....and instead they go and commit all that $ to Tavares...

Then this summer....still in need of a defensive minded top pairing defenseman...they sign Tyson Barrie who’s known for his offense.

DUMB

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I mean we lost a playoff series because of our special teams last year and look to be losing a season in part because of our special teams this year. He sure as hell isn't the only one to blame....but last I checked we can't go to the new team store and grab a new one so the coach has got to go.