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?
There were credible rumors that he was interested. I heard from a friend who covers Michigan athletics that this was a possiblity. Obviously it was remote but its not like it was just some message board rumor.
Again brings me back to people thinking this was real... HOW???
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
GO LEAFS GO STANLEY CUP!
Sorry, couldn't resist.
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At least he's coaching where it won't hurt us. I think you'll learn to regret this decision but then again you have $50MM reasons why you won't.
I love Babcock and wish him well (except when he's playing the Wings) for as long as he stays in Toronto. If he can't lead them to a cup, they may want to disband the team.
Happy with Blashill.
For 50 mil over 8 years you have to be a fool to not take the money.
Looks like a win for everyone. Still sad to see him gone though.
I really can't imagine him wanting to move into coaching, even for the Wings and especially just to go to the Griffins. He's an excellent GM that's in a good situation down here and with Team Canada.
Taking Holland's seat when the time comes is my biggest hope, though (along with probably 90% of Wing's fans, not saying that's unique in any way).
You rarely see coaches at the top of their profession undertaking a massive rebuilding project. Im interested to see if he ends up with any part of personnel duty for the Leaves. I know he said he had zero interest in it... but I didnt really believe him.
Time to bring up Blashill. The guy can seriously develop some talent. Hell, half of our roster has already played for him.
You rarely see coaches at the top of their profession undertaking a massive rebuilding project.Dunno if it's all that rare. It just happened on December 30.
Pretty apples to oranges, but Ill take a stab at the comparison anyway. I think the Michigan team Harbaugh is taking over has considerably more talent and short term upside than Babcock's Leafs.
True, and forced roster turnover gives Michigan a lot better timetable, too.
The rumored salary was $4-5 mil/yr. so Toronto has to pop for $50 mil over 8 years? I think Babby has been less than "candid" with everyone regarding his intentions through this whole ordeal. If he wants to win NOW, Toronto is not the place to go. Its an old addage, but whenever they say "its not about the money", its about the money. Personally, I look forward to Blashill taking over--a new voice in the locker room may do some good, and I think the ENTIRE Red Wing organization--from Mr. I and Kenny H on down-- may have a little extra incentive to show that the success of the Red WIngs does not hinge on the presence of Mike Babcock.
Looks like only seven North American pro league head coaches (all in the NFL) will make more annual salary than Mike Babcock's est. $6.25M.
— The Wheel Deal (@Bill_Roose) May 20, 2015
Babcock's salary in first three years of his eight-year deal is believed to be as much as $8M per year.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 20, 2015
When Scotty Bowman was once asked what the secret to being a great coach is, he replied "Getting on the bus will all the best players" Evidentially one of Scotty' former players who now runs the Maple Leafs never heard the quote.
Where did I say he gets no credit? I just said let's be honest, they didn't have to beat anyone that tough to get to the finals, and they didn't. I'm not saying they couldn't have beaten San Jose or Anaheim if they'd had to, but they didn't have to.
Mike Babcock has won international junior and senior tourneys, Olympic gold, and Stanley Cups. Yes, he IS, not may be, the best coach in hockey today.
Without him, the Wings miss the playoffs a couple of years ago with that shitty roster of Bert, Sammy, and a past himsprime Cleary, etc.
I don't give him TOO much credit for his two Olympic golds. Peruse the roster of the Canadian teams from the past two Olympics, then read the numerous articles about who they had to snub. Canada could have iced two teams in 2010 and 2014, and both would have been medal favorites. A lot of coaches could have won gold with those lineups. He had a big hand, sure, but so did Steve Yzerman in selecting personnel.
A chimpanzee could win the Gold Medal with Canada's roster. Canada was one of only two countries where everyone on the roster was in the NHL. Even Sweden had at least one guy who wasn't in the NHL and they had to draw some mediocre guys to fill out the roster.
Peruse the comments section during the Olympics when my fellow Canadias were *definitely* going to lose to a) the Americans; b) the Russians and c) the Swedes. The pressure on the head coach of the Canadian team is unbelievable and, unlike the American team which is an interesting anecdote on the sporting landscape, the analysis of the Canadian team (inclusions/exclusions/coaching staff etc.) is a months long media exercise.
Babcock's Canadian team won with ridiculously effective defensive play in the last Olympics. That was application of his systems. He got buy in from the best players in the world to stop their usual roles and embrace defensive hockey (see Jamie Benn, Ryan Getzlaff and Corey Perry on a 2nd line and Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Toews and Jeff Carter on the checking line). Players win games. They won at the Olympics, handily, using Babcock's system.
Canada hasn't won gold at every Olympics despite having enough talent to send an a, b, and c team. Coaching matters. Canadians respect Babcock's efforts, believe me.
He's got Jonathan Teows, Jeff Carter, and Patrick Marleau on a third or fourth line and you think that the guy is a genius for being able to win with that? Compare that to the third or fourth line from Russia or Sweden.
I'll repeat what I said above -- a chimpanzee could win with that lineup. It's insane.
I'm with ya. He's a good coach but his NHL accomplishments don't really match his "best coach in the history of the universe" reputation. Given the insane levels of talent on the team from '06 through '09 a minimum of one Stanley Cup is what should have been expected out of that group and that's what we got. The '06 egg laying against Edmonton was just a disgrace. Since then, the performance of the team has been a "meets expectations" affair with only one playoff series victory in the past four seasons. The team has looked lazy, careless, and disinterested for long periods since the cup win and isn't really responding to him anymore.
You are a bit critical of 2008, but you didn't even mention one of the biggest parts of the cup run that was frustrating - game 5 of the SCF was an adventure that ended up in yet another one of those can't-close-it-out data points that became a pattern since then. Wings go down 2-0 in first period, so play from behind to close out the cup. But they battle back and score in the 2nd and twice in the third, steal ALL of the momentum, have ALL BUT WON the cup...and with 35 seconds left, Pittsburgh ties it up. Three overtimes later...3 OTs of being literally on the brink of winning everything with just one shot...but instead we're headed to game 6. Now, they DID close it out (thank god) in Pittsburgh after that crushing loss, but this is just another example of that annoying pattern that kept showing up on a yearly basis in the playoffs.
That can't be all Babcock's fault of course, but maybe a new coach will bring a much needed breath of fresh air into what seemed like was a stale environment. Babcock was brilliant in the way he approached Tampa this year with an inferior roster...and yet, paradoxically, I wonder how much of the reason why Detroit collapsed in the series had to do with Babcock and this recurring pattern of "can't close out pivotal games at home"
Reality: highest bidder wins!!
Can't blame him for leaving, especially with that pay.
Is he married? Because there is an outstanding selection of attractive women from all over the world available in Toronto.
I used to date a Canadian girl. You wouldn't know her.
Married with three high school/college aged kids. Other than maybe New York or LA or Miami being extra crazy, I kind of doubt the single millionaire athletes/coaches are lacking options anywhere.
Scherzer, Suh and now Babcock all left Detroit because of more money. Can't really blame the teams or players/coach since it really was a lot more money.
I would mind it a lot more if they didn't have a pretty good replacement ready, but they do. The Wings will be fine.
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Same here... My phone is blowing up woith texts from Leafs fans I know!
He is a great coach, but I am very tired of getting ousted after 1st round, after 1st round, after 1st round...
Might be the perfect time for change.
Go Wings!
Joe Maddon taking the Cubs managerial job. Have to give him props for being willing to take on the black hole that the Leafs have become. Maddon has the Cubs showing some signs of life this season, so maybe Babcock can bring Toronto back from oblivion.
Do the Wings have a good candidate to backfill the job? I don't live in Detroit, so I'm not sure what the buzz is.
It will almost definitely be Jeff Blashill. He has been in the organization since 2011 and has been the head coach of the Griffins (top minor league affiliate in Grand Rapids) since 2012 winning one Calder Cup and advancing to the 2015 conference finals a few days ago.
Cubs actually have some serious young talent, however. Joe surely saw that. Babs will get nothing close to what Maddon has.
So much for Babs isn't going anywhere.
Sigh