Is there any doubt that Mike Babcock is the best coach in the league?

[Riddum]

Basically what the title says.

Click to read more...

 

[Mrb1p]

There's is doubt. He's clearly ONE of the best, but would I label him the best 10/10 ? No.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

Yes, there is doubt he is the best.

He does things that people hate and he has success with talented players like lots of good coaches do.

 

[1989]

There's is doubt. He's clearly ONE of the best, but would I label him the best 10/10 ? No.

Pretty much this. I would go so far as to say that only about 3-5 teams maximum wouldn't take him, but he's still pretty much the de-facto prime choice.

Chicago and L.A. come to mind, but that's just my guess.

I personally really like Bob Hartley as the Flames' head coach so it is a pretty close toss-up there, even if others might feel it's misguided. Some coaches are simply better for certain styles of play/identity of the team.

 

[Gio4PM]

Hitchcock, Trotz, Maurice... Yeah, there's doubt.

 

[Riddum]

Yes, there is doubt he is the best.

He does things that people hate and he has success with talented players like lots of good coaches do.

The type of consistence though.... I love Roy, but Babcock was probably robbed last year. The wings are talented but they're a shell of what they were about 7 years ago. That Wings (2008) team would murder the current one.

 

[Mrb1p]

Personally, I'd rank Sutter above him clearly, but aside from that it's open and I don't think you can label one as better than the other in the 4-5 bests.

 

[Mizral]

My top two NHL coaches have been Babcock and Joel Quenneville in Chicago. There are other top notch guys but those two have been a cut above for so long now.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

One of the best coaches, IDK if he is THE best, but he is close.

 

[Romang67]

The type of consistence though.... I love Roy, but Babcock was probably robbed last year. The wings are talented but they're a shell of what they were about 7 years ago. That Wings (2008) team would murder the current one.

Yeah, but that team was the best team since sliced bread. It wasn't that big of an accomplishment to win with them (not taking anything away from Babcock, just saying that the team was amazing).

Right now, he has a good team. They are lacking in some areas, but they are still a good team.

One of the best, yeah. But it's definitely debatable whether he is THE best.

 

[BruinsBtn]

He's certainly taught his defensemen a few ways to get away with holding the stick rather than playing defense.

 

[zombi]

He's certainly taught his defensemen a few ways to get away with holding the stick rather than playing defense.

How else are we going to stop you guys from taking crotch-shots?

 

[Sleepy]

Q and Sutter have just as much of a case as Babcock IMO.

 

[Derrty]

He's certainly taught his defensemen a few ways to get away with holding the stick rather than playing defense.

And subtle picks all over the ice

 

[TOML]

He may be the best, but yes, there is some doubt.

 

[Tasteslikekevinbacon]

And subtle picks all over the ice

Nice to see edzo made it out.

 

[parabola]

There's probably less doubt that he's top 5.

 

[Peter Tagli Eddie]

Maybe

 

[THall4]

I'd like to him coach the Oilers out of the basement...if he could make that team a playoff team...then i'd consider him the best coach on the planet.

 

[Retire91]

The best coach would never put a scoring line together of Cleary Daytsuk Abdelkader. Yes that was basically scoring line 1A or B two seasons ago. Great coach for sure, infuriating lines and roster decisions at times.

 

[gretskidoo]

If he was another team than the Ref Wings, he wouldn't quite the same record.

 

[X8oD]

And subtle picks all over the ice

I think if you actually took off the glasses, you'd noticed that what was once a "red wing" Thing, has become a league thing. Every single team does it.

I know its a "hipster" thing to call out Detroit. But they no longer do it well enough to get away with it. Their defense isn't as crisp as it used to be.

they still do it, but i wouldn't put them in the top 5 teams to effectively do it anymore.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Over the longevity, yes, I think he's the best. Take the last 3-5 seasons alone and I'd think Sutter has had more success.

 

[Cult of Hynes]

I'd like to him coach the Oilers out of the basement...if he could make that team a playoff team...then i'd consider him the best coach on the planet.

Not even Scotty Bowman could make that mess of a team a playoff team.

 

[SirloinUB]

The best coach would never put a scoring line together of Cleary Daytsuk Abdelkader. Yes that was basically scoring line 1A or B two seasons ago. Great coach for sure, infuriating lines and roster decisions at times.

When your biggest complaint is from "two seasons ago" maybe its time you move on