Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] Mike Babcock resigning as Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach

Calgary4LIfe · 09-19-2023, 12:29 PM

I have stated as much in the past - even before he got hired in Toronto - but I think Babcock is an overrated coach anyway. He has always coached behind great teams. He did make it to the finals with them, but then got fired the following season. Then the Ducks won the cup. Detroit should have probably won more cups with that lineup. Toronto should have had more playoff success if he was such a great coach - I wouldn't say that they should have won a cup, but the team under him either didn't qualify, or were bounced in the 1st.

I think the Babcock hype train all got started back when Brent Sutter was hired. IIRC, there was a lot of noise about Team Canada that year and who they wanted to coach the team, and there were only two names - Brent Sutter and Mike Babcock. I bet that if Sutter got the job instead, Team Canada would still have run over everyone else, and that would have propelled Sutter (who is NOT a great coach) suddenly into the conversation of "Best Coach in the NHL".

I think Kekalainen bought into the hype as I do think his job is on the line. I think it was a bad gamble to take, and now it has blown up in his face, and I do think that unless Columbus makes the playoffs this year, he is probably out (though I do think he will be snapped up quick as he is a fairly good GM in my opinion, but this was a big mistake on his part).

I don't even blame him for coming out initially the way he did defending Babcock. Babcock is a master manipulator, full-stop. Of course he has to manipulate and deceive those above him as well.

Here is what I think about Babcock. I don't think he is a better coach than Hartley. I think they are both coaches who won exactly 1 Stanely Cup. The difference was that Hartley has only coached one team that was any good and won his cup before his toxicity poisoned the team. Hartley has a notable history of joining an organization and making them exceed expectations (or righting the ship), and he wins at every level. I can't say the same about Babcock. That's where I rate him anyway - I don't think he is a terrible coach, but I do think he is INCREDIBLY overrated.

I think there are three good things that will come out of this:

1) No more Babcock. Period. No way anyone gives him another NHL job.
2) Probably closes the door on other coaches with a history too - so this will help get some new blood in the league, which will help hockey evolve as well.
3) Everyone in the entire hockey world has been reminded that we are living in a world where the tables have turned somewhat on people who have a position of power over someone else and use it maliciously. It is easier to identify them and expose them. These things are much more difficult - if not impossible now - to sweep under the rug and keep it quiet.

Good riddance forever to the most overrated coach in NHL history and his general 'horribleness' that he seemed to have brought to the lives of so many people.

09-19-2023, 12:29 PM	#270
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I have stated as much in the past - even before he got hired in Toronto - but I think Babcock is an overrated coach anyway. He has always coached behind great teams. He did make it to the finals with them, but then got fired the following season. Then the Ducks won the cup. Detroit should have probably won more cups with that lineup. Toronto should have had more playoff success if he was such a great coach - I wouldn't say that they should have won a cup, but the team under him either didn't qualify, or were bounced in the 1st. I think the Babcock hype train all got started back when Brent Sutter was hired. IIRC, there was a lot of noise about Team Canada that year and who they wanted to coach the team, and there were only two names - Brent Sutter and Mike Babcock. I bet that if Sutter got the job instead, Team Canada would still have run over everyone else, and that would have propelled Sutter (who is NOT a great coach) suddenly into the conversation of "Best Coach in the NHL". I think Kekalainen bought into the hype as I do think his job is on the line. I think it was a bad gamble to take, and now it has blown up in his face, and I do think that unless Columbus makes the playoffs this year, he is probably out (though I do think he will be snapped up quick as he is a fairly good GM in my opinion, but this was a big mistake on his part). I don't even blame him for coming out initially the way he did defending Babcock. Babcock is a master manipulator, full-stop. Of course he has to manipulate and deceive those above him as well. Here is what I think about Babcock. I don't think he is a better coach than Hartley. I think they are both coaches who won exactly 1 Stanely Cup. The difference was that Hartley has only coached one team that was any good and won his cup before his toxicity poisoned the team. Hartley has a notable history of joining an organization and making them exceed expectations (or righting the ship), and he wins at every level. I can't say the same about Babcock. That's where I rate him anyway - I don't think he is a terrible coach, but I do think he is INCREDIBLY overrated. I think there are three good things that will come out of this: 1) No more Babcock. Period. No way anyone gives him another NHL job. 2) Probably closes the door on other coaches with a history too - so this will help get some new blood in the league, which will help hockey evolve as well. 3) Everyone in the entire hockey world has been reminded that we are living in a world where the tables have turned somewhat on people who have a position of power over someone else and use it maliciously. It is easier to identify them and expose them. These things are much more difficult - if not impossible now - to sweep under the rug and keep it quiet. Good riddance forever to the most overrated coach in NHL history and his general 'horribleness' that he seemed to have brought to the lives of so many people.