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

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Interesting given that TSN said definitively yesterday that Babcock wasn't going to Toronto.

I think part of it is Shanahan changing the way the Leafs leak info to the media (shutting the door basically). Dreger doesn't have his buddy Nonis to feed him all of the good info anymore.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by AcGold

The team will never win with Dion as captain so 6 years of guaranteed suck from Toronto. Dion is an ok hockey player, a decent 4th or 5th dman but on Toronto he's a boat anchor dragging the team to the bottom. It's not even his fault, Toronto gambled and lost big time. Franchise destroying move. Nothing Babcock will be able to do with him there.

6 years is a long time to suppose nothing changes

[The Hendog]

So who will be the Leafs GM them...?

Perhaps they will try to lure Stevie Y and just have a big old Red Wings reunion in Toronto

[heep223]

Originally Posted by The Hendog

So who will be the Leafs GM them...?

Perhaps they will try to lure Stevie Y and just have a big old Red Wings reunion in Toronto

Me thinks Stevie Y is pretty good with where he's at right now.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by calf

What's greater, Babcock's contract or how much the Argos were purchased for today?

pretty sure Babcock now owns the Argos

[OutOfTheCube]

Also, as a fan of the team featuring Scotty Bowman's only unsuccessful stop in his coaching career, hiring a great coach isn't an instant pass to success.

[Leon]

No surprise that he lands in Toronto. To me it was likely he would end in either Buffalo or Toronto given their proximity to his family and their home in Detroit.

Money talks and again, its unsurprising that Toronto was able to outbid the other teams. Good luck in Toronto, Babcock. If he can't turn things around there and get the team to play, then nobody can.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

6 years is a long time to suppose nothing changes

I agree, but who is going to want his contract? He's a liability way too often. He's hit his own teammates more than once, has little to no defensive awareness, misses the net with his shot way too often and his physical game is nearly gone.

The guy is a boat anchor and the biggest problem on the team. How can you motivate a team with a captain that is a negative contributor? Toronto will have to eat half his salary. If he was a Flame Hartley would scratch him every game. I'd be more comfortable with Diaz than Dion.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Komskies

I think part of it is Shanahan changing the way the Leafs leak info to the media (shutting the door basically). Dreger doesn't have his buddy Nonis to feed him all of the good info anymore.

Maybe. But the way they were talking - especially McKenzie - it sounded like their inside sources told them Toronto was out. Not often Bob gets left with pie on his face.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by AcGold

I agree, but who is going to want his contract? He's a liability way too often. He's hit his own teammates more than once, has little to no defensive awareness, misses the net with his shot way too often and his physical game is nearly gone.

The guy is a boat anchor and the biggest problem on the team. How can you motivate a team with a captain that is a negative contributor? Toronto will have to eat half his salary. If he was a Flame Hartley would scratch him every game. I'd be more comfortable with Diaz than Dion.

There are teams that would take him. Plus they could be creative with retaining salary, adding picks, etc. Clarkson was moved, remember?

[sureLoss]

Shawn Stepner @StepnerWKBW
League source tells me #Sabres thought they had deal in principle w/ Babcock 2 days ago around same term/dollars as Leafs. Maybe even 9 yrs.

[Yamer]

Wow....

....wow.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Shawn Stepner @StepnerWKBW
League source tells me #Sabres thought they had deal in principle w/ Babcock 2 days ago around same term/dollars as Leafs. Maybe even 9 yrs.

Buffalo. Always a bridesmaid. Never a bride.

[codynw]

So who do the teams that missed out on Babcock/McLellan go for? Bylsma? MacLean?

[heep223]

Buffalo Rhett? Friggin' Buffalo?

Maybe this is the hockey gods punishing the Sabres for the most outright tank job in the history of the NHL, possibly in the history of sport. It's going to take a long time to wash the stink off that one.

[sureLoss]

Sportsnet Stats @SNstats
Highest-paid coaches by league

NBA: Popovich $11M
NCAAB: Coach K $9.7M
NFL Payton: $8M
NCAAF: Saban $7.1M
NHL: Babcock $6.25M

[dash_pinched]

Argos presser interrupted to announce the hiring of Mike Babcock (lol)

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by codynw

So who do the teams that missed out on Babcock/McLellan go for? Bylsma? MacLean?

Bylsma is a not a good coach. I will be surprised if he is re-hired this season. I did like MacLean though.

Again, Babcock's new contract is hardly a new benchmark for all NHL coaches. He has deserved this pay level by his consistently high work ethics and results. There are many good junior level coaches that are available, ready and willing to take NHL coaching jobs at significantly lower pay grade.

[timbit]

Tim Murray was the deal breaker for Babcock with Buffalo, not the money.

He has the charisma of a snail.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

There are teams that would take him. Plus they could be creative with retaining salary, adding picks, etc. Clarkson was moved, remember?

I'd pull that trigger now. Dion's going to be a negative asset very soon if not already. Another year or two and my guess is he may not even be NHL callibre anymore at all. Few players sink so hard and so fast as he has.