[News] Leafs hire Babcock (8yr contract, $50 million)

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I'd be very worried if I was a Leafs fan. He's clearly only there for the money, and it's guaranteed if he coaches 1 game or 1,000 games. I suspect he mails it in as coach and gets $50 million for 2-3 years work.

Huh?! I don't understand this...the guy is a competitor. He wants to win. No way he mails it in.

[Stud_McCool]

He doesn't have a Ken Holland to fall back on should things go sour. Will definitely be entertaining.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by dammage79

24 million in the first three years. There's no CBA restriction on how front loaded coaches salaries can be be I assume.

Coaches have nothing to do with the CBA. That's between the NHL and NHLPA.

[Vinny01]

Burke was in Toronto 5 years and aged about 15 I wonder how old Babcock will look after 8 years of that circus

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Huh?! I don't understand this...the guy is a competitor. He wants to win. No way he mails it in.

Then why was he choosing between 2 of the 4 worst teams in the league? I'm guessing because they offered him a blank check. I doubt he's as committed now, he's insanely rich either way, and going to Toronto shields his reputation because its such a horrible franchise. If he does poorly, so what, everyone in Toronto does. His rep survives either way, and another chance to get paid later. Smart guy.

[dino7c]

he isn't gonna mail it in but he obviously went there for the money and the money alone

[Street Pharmacist]

Babcock is taking his talents to Bay Street

[Robbob]

Yeah it definitely sounds like in their conversations with the leafs Babcock said he would only consider them if he made double what everyone is offering because of the state of the team and media market. Leafs said okay and didn't blink.

[sec304]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Does it really matter what a coach makes?

Does cash matter to Toronto? No. However, if this raises the bar for future coaching contracts then yes. Some teams out there work on an internal budget. If all of the sudden their coach gets paid double, then they have less money to use on players.

This could make an effect. Making small market teams less likely to afford big name coaches

[MillerTime GFG]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Then why was he choosing between 2 of the 4 worst teams in the league? I'm guessing because they offered him a blank check. I doubt he's as committed now, he's insanely rich either way, and going to Toronto shields his reputation because its such a horrible franchise. If he does poorly, so what, everyone in Toronto does. His rep survives either way, and another chance to get paid later. Smart guy.

Of course money is a motivator, but that doesn't mean he's not there to win. I'm sure he will enjoy a team that can be considered a project. Imagine the satisfaction of turning that franchise around, in the centre of the universe.

[shogged]

Wow that contract is insane.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Then why was he choosing between 2 of the 4 worst teams in the league? I'm guessing because they offered him a blank check. I doubt he's as committed now, he's insanely rich either way, and going to Toronto shields his reputation because its such a horrible franchise. If he does poorly, so what, everyone in Toronto does. His rep survives either way, and another chance to get paid later. Smart guy.

Two things played a part, Money and Ego.

Babcock has supposedly said behind the scenes that he felt it was his role to try and increase the pool of money for coaches around the league, this clearly does that (and makes his wallet fatter in the process).

The second part is Ego. IMO Toronto was always where he wanted to land. He feels like he can turn any team around into a contender, and knows if he can be the guy who wins the Leafs the Stanley Cup he will be a legend in the game of hockey.

I don't think Toronto protects his legacy at all...ask Ron Wilson or Randy Carlyle how that worked out. IMO this was the Risky pick, worst prospect base, and worst media market.

Buffalo, San Jose, etc all had much better future's, Toronto is kind of a mess right now and he thinks he can clean it up.

[Buff]

He isn't going to the Leafs for only money. He is going there for the challenge of turning the franchise around. He just got the extra money out of them to deal with the huge mess and media pressure.

He went to Detroit when they were a top team and he kept them a top team. Now he wants to have a different challenge.

[Stanathan]

Suck it Buffalo. Real coaches don't want to work for a tanker.

[OutOfTheCube]

Oh well -- would've been nice if Buffalo could've landed him but if he was chasing the money (which he obviously is) it was always going to be Toronto. Not sure who our target will be now but at least there won't be such an enormous spotlight.

[HartAttack]

Babcock likely went there for the money, but I'm also sure he wanted a tough challenge. Perfect fit for him.

[LChoy]

Toronto isn't close to being a contender, but with Babcock locked down for at least 5 years, wondering if the Leafs can be patient enough to do a proper rebuild. Bad things if they think it's win now time

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

Of course money is a motivator, but that doesn't mean he's not there to win. I'm sure he will enjoy a team that can be considered a project. Imagine the satisfaction of turning that franchise around, in the centre of the universe.

Imagine the hell that's coming down on him when they haven't won the Cup after 2 years. I hope he's ready for the most unrealistic expectations of his life. And this is a guy who coached the Olympic team twice.

[The Ditch]

That would put him top 10 in the NFL for coaching salaries, that is an insane contract for the NHL, good for him I guess.

[Mattman]

RIP
Mike Babcocks status as a brilliant coach