OT: Babcock to Maple Leafs
I was hearing all day yesterday that Babcock would be taking the Sabres job. I was shocked to see that he accepted the Toronto job instead.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have won the sweepstakes for the offseason's biggest coaching prize, reaching terms with Mike Babcock on Wednesday, a source confirmed to ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun.
I don't see financial terms of the deal, but the Buffalo deal was rumored at $5 million/year.
How do you feel about Babcock departing? Do you think the Wings should have made a better offer than the reported $3.5 million/year to keep him? Or is it time for new blood? Is it time for me to stop asking questions in this thread? I'm Ron Burgundy?
well... bye.
Smell that, Bill? Smells like someone took a new job.
You know what I'd do? I'd take that deal 'n' crawfish, then drill them ol' Maple Leafs in the ass...
Either you're not a Wings fan, or you've been spoiled by the incredible run the Wings have had. If the former, I understand. I'm a Blackhawks fan myself. OTOH, if the latter, you sound like the Michigan fans I remember who thought a 10 - 2 record was maybe ok, but were pretty disappointed. Be careful what you wish for. Long term success is more ephemeral than you might realize.
As a Leafs fan I was pretty pleased with Babcock's decision to move to the centre of the hockey universe. Like it or not, that is Toronto. I think Wings fans (current vintage) all forget the Dead Wings era from 67 to 82 or even the early Yzerman years with one star player and nothing else through the early 90's. If people are glad to see Babcock go I think they should think about a saying typed often on these boards in the middle of the last decade "We need a new Carr with Les Miles". I think we all know how that worked out.
Enjoy the $$$ Babs, you're going to really have to earn it.
Clearly the OP is referring to 2007-Present-- you know, the time period Les Miles has been our football coach.
I'm sorry I didn't clarify that Les Miles did not become our coach. The "new Carr Les Miles" meme was a constant in the 06/07 MGoEra with the feelings of many in the fanbase along the lines of "we can do better" than Carr (having of course been in the conversation for a MNC game in 06).
The meme led to joyous celebration from many (I was admittedly hopeful) about RR. New isn't always better. But good luck replacing a Stanley Cup winner with your minor league championship coach.
Just like Scotty Bowman said (paraphrasing) players win cups, not coaches.
Rich Rodriguez is a better football coach than Lloyd Carr, sorry to say. The contrast in results at Michigan is a case study in the importance of institutional support. No chance in hell Carr could have left the UM bosom and done as well as RR has done at places like West Virginia and Arizona.
And Babcock hasn't been to a Stanley Cup Finals or even a conference finals in six years. He was extremely overvalued, much of it based on relatively meaningless games in the Olympics.
If you think Carr wasn't a mediocre-type coach at great program coaching great players, then you weren't paying much attention.
The post-Carr era was bungled horribly, primarily by Carr himself (by torpedoing Miles, and then actively working AGAINST Rodriguez to satisfy Carr's own personal agenda), Martin (for being pushed around by Carr), and Brandon (for being a train-wreck in almost everysense of the word).
If Moeller does not decide to get drunk one specidic night, Carr likely never would have never even been a head coach. Carr had some great success, and deserves his due and credit, but I for one am happy he is gone, and hope wherever he is, he stays there.
We do not know how a Miles era would have played out, maybe good, mabe not; however, we do know why it did not happen---Carr and his own self-driven concerns, which he placed above those of the football team, and the University.
Carr was the person responsible for pushing Harbaugh away in the first place (by not hiring him), but in a twist of irony, all these bunglers---Carr, Martin (who both did some good things), Brandon and his peronal hire, Hoke---maybe will produce another great era in UM football fueled by the Harbaugh hire.
That's my hope, if not my prediction. It's happening.
That's an insane amount of money for a hockey coach, but Toronto has money to burn.
I'm honestly pretty pumped for the change.
#smashwithblash
for any coach, let alone a NHL coach.
It is, but Toronto can definitely afford it. Recently valued at $1.3b with one of the biggest fanbases on the continent. Now all they need to do is, you know, win.
Your avatar and username are Babcock on his way to the bank. Are you Babcock?
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As much as I like the Wings if Babs had to go anywhere I'm glad it was the Leafs. Toronto is such a good city for hockey and they've had nothing but a seemingly unending run of bad management & bad coaches they deserve this.
Lets be honest here. I'm a Browns & Cavs fan so there arent many fans of teams out there that can truly empathize with my pain. And any Leafs fan younger than about 65 definitely knows just how I feel.
As a Leafs/Browns/Cavs/Tribe fan I've seen more than my share of suffering these past years. Michigan used to be...well, Michigan. I'm hopeful about Harbaugh (got season tix, how about you?) and Babcock the same way.
The bottom line is that no matter how much people here try to convince themselves that somehow their team is better with Blashill running things they are completely wrong. You don't lose a Stanley Cup winning coach, an Olympic Gold medal winning coach and hell, a CIS winning coach and not be worse for it.
As a long suffering Leafs fan, I'm happy about that.
I am no longer a fan of the NHL (just check in on how the former Wolverines are doing) but when I was I was a Red Wings fan.
Am I disappointed to see the best coach in hockey leave Detroit? Yes. Do I think Detroit should've paid what Toronto is? NO. That is way too much money and for way too long.
What was the first thing that popped into my head after seeing the 8/50 number? He will last 3-5 years before he is run out of town. They are not ready to win, and the fans NEED to be patient (for once) and allow this current group build the team that they want to build. I think Babcock is capable of winning in Toronto but I do not see the fans and media being patient enough.
Pat Burns owned Toronto. I don't see any reason why Babcock can't have the same sort of impact and/or relationship with the media. Burns was at turns surly and irritable yet he won games and was beloved by the fanbase.
Winning cures.
Never got the hate Babcock got in Detroit. There were a few excellent coaching jobs just getting the Wings into the playoffs the last few years.
He didn't win the Cup every year. Sports fans can be a fickle bunch. Especially with a consistently good franchise.
There's just been a declining love for him. He seems to need a new challenge, and the Wings roster seems to need to new voice. There's not a hate for him, and nobody is saying "He HAS to go!" But we are happy for a new start, especially considering who we have waiting in the wings.
It was the inevitable result of getting hired with Red Wings's fans still having fond memories of Bowman. I think it's a smart move for Babcock aside from the money.
The guy is going to get paid a zillion dollars in Toronto. If he wins a cup in Toronto he'll be sainted, schools will be named after him and he'll get his own postage stamp.
It's hard to describe the impact that winning a cup in Toronto would have professionally for him. Babcock is, I am sure, a confident guy. He could see where winning a cup in Toronto and ending the streak of horror would place him in the hockey pantheon. If someone is going to pay you like that to try, why not?
for Detroit Pro Sports. Three big names gone in less than a calendar year.
Scherzer
Porcello
Smith /s although he's been solid-ish for the Rockets
Suh
Babcock
Monroe in about a month
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This is funny... Porcello was crucified by 95% of the fans. Now we're lamenting his loss?! Whatever.
I don't agree, from what Dreger said on Toronto radio it sounds like it really did take a last ditch, back up the Brinks truck offer from the Leafs. I think Holland just said "Look, if you see an offer that's better for you, take it." The Wings' offer would have still made him the highest paid coach in the league.
They were reportedlly offering quite a bit more than the Wings too.
No, to beat out the Wings. It was actually going to take a giant offer like the one made to beat out Detroit. 50% greater vs 20% greater.
Im fine with him leaving because i think Blashill will make a good coach .
Im glad he went to Toronto . If anyone can help make them better its Babcock. Plus he will be getting paid rather handsomely for all the shit he will have to take. Win or Lose .
I just do not want to hear from him, anything other than " I came to Toronto because they offered me the most money "
If you say . I came here because they have the best chance to win . If you say I have always wanted to coach here , or any other bullshit . I will lose all respect for you .
Go get paid. make as much money as you can. Im not mad you left My Red Wings . But you said you wanted to be on a team with the best chance of winning . Now thats not the case . So dont try to insult us .
Same with the Buffalo flirtations. After they didn't get the #1 overall pick, you just KNEW it had to be about the money.
He got paid to coach in the hockey capital of the world. Anyone would take that pay to coach there, deep talent or not.
Why would Toronto want to rent him for a year? Are they not aware that he'll be taking over for Red in 2016-17?
when Hackett snags Babcock with a package in the ballpark of Red's contract ($238K base + incentives)