Those of you that are turning on Babcock are disgusting. The guy may have some unusual ways to get the best out of his teams, but in the end he was successful.
People cannot sit there and say Babcock only had superstar teams that made him a success. The list is long of coaches that had superstars and the odds on favorite to win championships only to fail time and time again.
If there are players that are sensitive to coaching styles that is on them and their self esteem, not the coach. Shannahan played under Babcock for years and in turn hired him as the coach of the Leafs. Shanny doesnt look like someone that would crumble under scrutiny. If we take the word of Franzen or Chelios or Marner over the backing of players like Shanny, Yzerman, Draper, Lidstrom, Hull, Hasek, etc... All players that were key contributors to the Detroit glory years. Kariya, Neidermyer, Federov, Oates, etc that played for him in Anahiem? That is plain stupid.
Remember Babcock, Holland and Bowman all worked together in some capacity with the Red Wings organization during Babcock's tenure. Holland and Bowman are well respected individuals. Do you actually all think that they would put up with Babcock for as long as they did if he was as horrible of a coach as you all state?
Some players are soft and in the NHL, you need to be tough on players to get them where they should be in their effort and production. Most players react positively and that is on coaching. Some react poorly and that is on them. They are not better then the game and coaches are brought in to do what Babcock exactly did. Get the most out of team.
Some of you that sit there and state that Babcock was crap and egotistical. You need to be egotistical in a sport that is full of players that are far worse egotistical then he. Players believe its the league and coaches that owe them, but in reality its an honor to make it to the NHL and they owe it to the league and fans to produce and providing them the lifestyle that they have playing in it.
Sad to see that Babcock is being blackballed. Doesnt surprise me that Marner is in the middle of it. Always was a player full of drama coming up the ranks with his dad Paul. And when you look at Chelios, always was someone to shoot his mouth. Great players they both are in their own sense. But also 2 players that are all drama.
But for those of you that are saying what you all are about Babcock should all be ashamed. He brought the Leafs back to respectability when no one ever thought it was possible. Sooner then expected. Yes they werent able to get over the hump. But Leafs upper management really never gave him the players to succeed at his style of game that he succeeded in previous stops. He did as well as he could, with what he was given. Only now is Dubas, providing leadership and grit to some extent to his buddy Keefe. Dubas has as much to do with Babcock's demise as anyone. If anyone is to blame for his failures it is he. Not Babcock.
