Babcock Interview (Since being hired by Saskatoon) "Something doesn't add up"

[RogerR]

This goes beyond cancel culture. Babcock is just an overrated douche who was exposed. Following by hundreds of excuses and unwillingness to own anything.
Players/Management will never be able to take him seriously ever again. After Torts is fired, arrogant coaches will never be seen again.

I agree. Torts is on his last legs and I think given how much better and cheaper Keefe is, I don't see anyone wanting Babs.

 

[sxvnert]

I agree. Torts is on his last legs and I think given how much better and cheaper Keefe is, I don't see anyone wanting Babs.

The Torts/Babs style served its purpose before guarateed millions and no trade clauses. In todays nhl, Keefes firm but fair approach to the players and media is the proper path.

 

[stickty111]

Apparently there is a rumor Shanny didn't even want Babcock at first.

 

[Joey Hoser]

Apparently there is a rumor Shanny didn't even want Babcock at first.

That wouldn't make much sense since the Leafs didn't have a GM at the time, and it was entirely his call to give him a completely unprecedented contract for a coach.

I think Babcock's an asshole, but I don't know that it was a mistake to bring him in the first place. He worked the tank year masterfully, and brought a degree of credibility to our rebuild.

It was after the team got good and started taking the praise and attention away from him, that things started going downhill.

 

[socko]

Didn't they give the Red Wings a 3rd round pick to speak with Babs a week earlier than they could have done it for free?

 

[AllDay28]

Imagine defending Babcock ... woof.

 

[ACC1224]

I agree. Torts is on his last legs and I think given how much better and cheaper Keefe is, I don't see anyone wanting Babs.

Every time Burke leaves a team we always hear how know will want this dinosaur any longer. Babcock will coach again in the NHL, 100%.

 

[francis246]

Everyone knew about the Mike Modano scratchings at the time and Mike Commodore was very vocal about his time under Babcock. Im sure Shanny knew about that stuff. Not sure exactly when the Franzen stuff came out but with Shanny having so many close ties with Redwings players and staff, I'm sure he knew something about it.

so if so many teams were willing to sign him, is it possible that some of the stories out there are over exaggerated? Because I have a hard time believing that if he was such a horrible person why was he so sought after that summer.

 

[AllDay28]

The Marner 'incident" seems so silly to me, why are people making a big deal out of it?

I think Bab's was a good coach but he was too adamant and the players needed a new voice. He lost the room and he got fired for it... happens all the time.

Let's not make him a monster because of these 'accusations'. There are real monsters out there and he is not one of them.

whyd you put quotes around something that happened?

 

[Gabriel426]

Babs is a good coach and he has his mind set on how he wanted his team to play. A lot of what he said about the Leafs were spot on. He also made mistakes too. Like playing Leo way too much, not playing Spezza on opening night...
I have a feeling he will coach the NHL again.

 

[Joey Hoser]

so if so many teams were willing to sign him, is it possible that some of the stories out there are over exaggerated? Because I have a hard time believing that if he was such a horrible person why was he so sought after that summer.

I don't think anyone is claiming he's a complete monster to everyone he interacts with everytime. He's wouldn't be the first asshole to get/have a job.

 

[Stephen]

Apparently there is a rumor Shanny didn't even want Babcock at first.

That is hard to believe if you rewind back to when they woo’ed him back in 2015. The Leaf Blueprint is a nice rewind to the feeling around the franchise at that time.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Apparently there is a rumor Shanny didn't even want Babcock at first.

Big mistake by Shanny when he agreed to let Babs meet with Larry to discuss/agree on contract and what his boundaries on selecting players were ... but he was a rook prez ... he won't make same mistake ever again ... Babs looked at Shanny as a guy he could teach

 

[ShaneFalco]

 

[Stephen]

Babs is a good coach and he has his mind set on how he wanted his team to play. A lot of what he said about the Leafs were spot on. He also made mistakes too. Like playing Leo way too much, not playing Spezza on opening night...
I have a feeling he will coach the NHL again.

I’d be curious to see a list of teams that finished in last place, drafted first overall and then didn’t miss the playoffs for the next 3 consecutive seasons. Most people hate Babcock for the poor quality of coaching but I’d say there was a time and a place for Babcock and he did his part bringing a certain level of respectability at the initial stages of the rebuild. Now the reigns are in someone else’s hands.

 

[Dekes For Days]

According to Mike Babcock, the writing was on the wall for his eventual firing as Toronto Maple Leafs head coach.
It’s been 15 months since Sheldon Keefe replaced the established bench boss, but the 57-year-old says it was operational differences and destiny that led to him being let go.
“It wasn’t shocking to me. I knew when Lou [Lamoriello] left, I was getting fired,” Babcock said in an interview with Sportsnet. “I really believe it is important for every general manager and coach to have their manager, and their coach; their guy. And that wasn’t me.”

Could it be this is why Babs made the questionable moves he made while Dubas was in charge?? Pretty much flipping the bird to Dubas and Shanny daring them to get it over with.

In the end I was not a fan but I blame Shanny. How do you hire a coach for 8 years at huge money and then sabatoge him by hiring a GM that has a totally different vision ?? Mind boggling.

The only reason Mike Babcock was fired was the incompetence and stubbornness of Mike Babcock. Mike Babcock was not sabotaged; he was the one doing the sabotaging. Trying to shift the blame to others is ridiculous.

 

[ToneDog]

The only reason Mike Babcock was fired was the incompetence and stubbornness of Mike Babcock. Mike Babcock was not sabotaged; he was the one doing the sabotaging. Trying to shift the blame to others is ridiculous.

Agree Mike did lots of sabatoging himself with some of his questionable coaching decision but I wonder how much those moves had to do with him knowing his days were numbered (as he said) after Lou was let go. I just think Shanny tried to fit a round peg in a square peg when he hired Dubas knowing that they could not co-exist. Sorry, if I am management I question Shanny's decision before I eat $24M.

 

[ToneDog]

Was interesting to hear Babs admit they intentionally tanked to get Matthews. At least he got that done successfully.

 

[lipstickjunkie]

I’d be curious to see a list of teams that finished in last place, drafted first overall and then didn’t miss the playoffs for the next 3 consecutive seasons. Most people hate Babcock for the poor quality of coaching but I’d say there was a time and a place for Babcock and he did his part bringing a certain level of respectability at the initial stages of the rebuild. Now the reigns are in someone else’s hands.

Drafting first overall and drafting Matthews first overall are very different things.

 

[CanadasTeam]

I’d be curious to see a list of teams that finished in last place, drafted first overall and then didn’t miss the playoffs for the next 3 consecutive seasons. Most people hate Babcock for the poor quality of coaching but I’d say there was a time and a place for Babcock and he did his part bringing a certain level of respectability at the initial stages of the rebuild. Now the reigns are in someone else’s hands.

That turning point is all I really care about and thankful for. Someone or group of leaders deserve all the credit for this turnaround.

In retrospect this club now appears to attract those UFAs who generally wouldn't have considered playing for Toronto.

The 'bad man' had been run out of town since Nov 2019 --so how come we cannot seem to move on?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Agree Mike did lots of sabatoging himself with some of his questionable coaching decision but I wonder how much those moves had to do with him knowing his days were numbered (as he said) after Lou was let go. I just think Shanny tried to fit a round peg in a square peg when he hired Dubas knowing that they could not co-exist.

His days weren't numbered. He was only fired when his incompetence and stubbornness almost flushed our entire season down the toilet, and there was no other option. Dubas and Babcock could have easily worked together if Babcock didn't intentionally Babcock it up. Of course Babcock's ego won't allow him to admit it, but the firing is all on himself.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Drafting first overall and drafting Matthews first overall are very different things.

We also added Marner, Nylander, multiple supplementary rookies, and a #1 goalie, on top of one of the best 1st overalls in the entire cap era. Babcock was not the reason for our rise.

 

[Joey Hoser]

That turning point is all I really care about and thankful for. Someone or group of leaders deserve all the credit for this turnaround.

In retrospect this club now appears to attract those UFAs who generally wouldn't have considered playing for Toronto.

The 'bad man' had been run out of town since Nov 2019 --so how come we cannot seem to move on?

Well there was new quotes from Babcock, so there is something to talk about. There probably wouldn't be an active Babcock thread otherwise.

 

[4thline]

Agree Mike did lots of sabatoging himself with some of his questionable coaching decision but I wonder how much those moves had to do with him knowing his days were numbered (as he said) after Lou was let go.

His days would not have been numbered if he had lived up to his own standards and been a real gud pro that did the best job he could with what he was given in manner his bosses asked.

 

[Stephen]

Mike Babcock’s biggest faux pas was basically not conforming to the directions the online fan base wanted, which I would describe as matching up with a lot of Bruce Cassidy’s moves in Boston where he stacked the big lines and produced glamorous numbers.

So I think he was more “unpopular” than “incompetent” and a lot of the bad press pile ons and anecdotes about his treatment of players is a good way for people to substantiate that unpopularity.

Anyway, we have a more player friendly coach now who will put the big guns together and we are waiting for the playoff success to follow, so onward and upwards.