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

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Why wasn't there a bigger deal made of Todd Mclellan hiring? Cause it wasn't Toronto. Nhl.com represents all NHL teams, and should represent them equally. I expect a live press conference to dominate nhl.com next time the Panthers hire a new coach.

The NFL.com doesn't give Green Bay anymore spotlight than Jacksonville. It's unprofessional for the NHL to do so.

There also wasn't speculation on where Babcock was going to end up for months.

And like it or not, NHL.com is supposed to deliver the most wanted content, regardless of it offends someone in Calgary who wants the story bumped down a peg. If more fans want to see that, then it behoves then to show it

[bax]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Why wasn't there a bigger deal made of Todd Mclellan hiring? Cause it wasn't Toronto. Nhl.com represents all NHL teams, and should represent them equally. I expect a live press conference to dominate nhl.com next time the Panthers hire a new coach.



The NFL.com doesn't give Green Bay anymore spotlight than Jacksonville. It's unprofessional for the NHL to do so.

It's not just the fact that it's Toronto, it's also the fact that it's Mike Babcock. This has been a storyline all year and he is arguably the best coach in the game today. Would you rather they didn't show the press conference?

[heep223]

It's supply and demand like everything else. There is a high demand for Leafs news and as such they need to supply it.

[BigTuna]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Why wasn't there a bigger deal made of Todd Mclellan hiring? Cause it wasn't Toronto. Nhl.com represents all NHL teams, and should represent them equally. I expect a live press conference to dominate nhl.com next time the Panthers hire a new coach.

The NFL.com doesn't give Green Bay anymore spotlight than Jacksonville. It's unprofessional for the NHL to do so.

Sorry, this is just ignorance. What league has all teams treated equally in terms of media focus? You're not being realistic.

And BTW, Greenbay is the smallest market in all of N.Anmerican sports. Not sure why you use them as an example.

Do the Yankees get more exposure than the Twins?

[polak]

Notice how it's only ever fans complaining?

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Jeez I think they spent at least another $1 million to build the set for this press conference:



Makes the wrinkled Flames backdrop look so ghetto.

Isn't that just the Leafs TV set with the analysts' table pushed over?

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Where's Mike?

CTV Toronto already creepin https://twitter.com/CTVToronto/statu...85854125416448
Here he is!

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Because it's the most news of the day?

Most expensive coaching hire in history? Check

Biggest hockey market/ center of the hockey universe? Check

Answer to a big question/storyline that's been going on for months? Check


Why wouldn't they, and how does that bother anybody?

Oh, I don't know ....

Maybe because the Stanley Cup playoffs are on and the focus should be on the game, not one of the worst franchises in the league?

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Oh, I don't know ....

Maybe because the Stanley Cup playoffs are on and the focus should be on the game, not one of the worst franchises in the league?

EXACTLY. There has been too much talk about those two loser franchises in Edmonton and Toronto the past few days. They act as if they have won the cup or will win the cup next year. The media is just pathetic in the NHL.

[Spinach]

To rub it in, Babcock called this garbage organization "Canada's Team." Six other NHL fan bases wouldn't agree, nor would those who primarily follow international tournaments, where Canada's team actually plays.

We're all aware that the leafs have the most fans in the country. That does not equate to them being Canada's team.

[868904]

I see this situation very similar to when Hartley first arrived in Calgary.

Not much in the cupboards, overpaid and underperforming veterans.

It took 3 years for Hartley to change the culture in Calgary and deliver a playoff team.

It'll be interesting to see how long it takes Babcock.

There are some similarities:

- Phaneuf and Kessel are the Leafs Bouwmeester and Iginla, we'll see what they can parlay these assets into, but it's crazy to think that the Flames are where they are right now with basically nothing from the Bouwmeester / Iginla returns;
- Nylander is their Gaudreau;
- Whoever they pick with their first this year will have to do what Monahan has done;
- Reilly is their Brodie;

What they need is a leader like Giordano.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Babcock coverage is utterly embarrassing, so you could pretty much multiple it by 10 if they would have gotten McDavid. Thankfully we were spared that.

[howard_the_duck]

Something that Shanahan said didn't sit right with me. When asked if he ever thought the Leafs were out of the Babcock race, he said "No I didn't, but I'm sure glad that everyone else did".

Just a wild theory, and I'm spit-balling, but could the Leafs have used the TO media to their advantage here? If my memory serves correct, didn't TSN come out and declare the Leafs out of the race a few days ago? That sure seems convenient for Mr. Shanahan that TSN got it wrong. And since we all know the TSN/Leafs history between Nonis/Dreger & co it seems odd that they did.

[dino7c]

He's no Bob Hartley...they are already making excuses as to why it will take a few years and have resigned themselves to the fact they will suck next year

much like the Oilers, no need to win games now we will be awesome in the future

"He wanted a challenge" no he wanted a truck load of money and used Buffalo so TO would give it to him...I wouldn't mind a truck load of money either but just be honest here. Like many have said the hype is way overblown here but we shouldn't be surprised considering the market and the social media age. Will be great when everyone realizes the coach can only do so much and its the players who win and lose games.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Spinach

To rub it in, Babcock called this garbage organization "Canada's Team." Six other NHL fan bases wouldn't agree, nor would those who primarily follow international tournaments, where Canada's team actually plays.

We're all aware that the leafs have the most fans in the country. That does not equate to them being Canada's team.

I disagree. Like the Cowboys are America's team the Leafs are Canada's team. Lots of Canadians are indifferent to say the Canucks, Flames, Senators, etc but the majority of Canadians have strong feelings for the Leafs as you either love them or hate them much like the Cowboys in the US.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

The Babcock coverage is utterly embarrassing, so you could pretty much multiple it by 10 if they would have gotten McDavid. Thankfully we were spared that.

I would still rather McDavid had gone to the Leafs. There is no organization in the NHL that deserved McDavid less than the Oilers.

[CSharp]

I guess if McDavid and Babcock were both starting next season in Toronto and cause an economic boom in Toronto based on this, all the bums would then move back to Ontario!

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I would still rather McDavid had gone to the Leafs. There is no organization in the NHL that deserved McDavid less than the Oilers.

I mean there's no good scenario between the two choices, but the only news story on TSN that any Canadian team could do that would get them more play than Toronto Maple Leaf Connor McDavid taking a dump would be winning the Cup (and even then, if it was a big dump...Connor probably leads SportsCentre). Sucks he's going to the Oil, but really that coverage has been nothing and has mostly focused on how historically bad the Oilers have been. McDavid to Toronto would have been about the 15 year dynasty of 6-10 Cups coming.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I mean there's no good scenario between the two choices, but the only news story on TSN that any Canadian team could do that would get them more play than Toronto Maple Leaf Connor McDavid taking a dump would be winning the Cup (and even then, if it was a big dump...Connor probably leads SportsCentre). Sucks he's going to the Oil, but really that coverage has been nothing and has mostly focused on how historically bad the Oilers have been. McDavid to Toronto would have been about the 15 year dynasty of 6-10 Cups coming.

I don't know I have heard lots of national media talking up the Oilers bright future lately

[PeteMoss]

For a stats oriented team - I'd be curious how they justified this giant salary. They are paying him way more than any other coach. Now obviously money doesn't matter as much in Toronto and their is no cap so less opportunity costs, but still seems like shiny object syndrome.