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

[SebC]

The Sabres should just accelerate the process and offer Blashill $50M/8y.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Tim Graham @ByTimGraham
Sabres livid for way Babcock handled past few days. Sabres so confident he was coming that they were prepared for Monday news conference.

Babcock and his agent played the Sabres like a violin. He was always going to Toronto. Everything else was just a show to drive up the price. Pretty ruthless approach, though. And one that the other GMs in the league will remember if Babcock stumbles in Toronto.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Holland says Bylsma and Blashill are on the short list for head coach candidates in Detroit.

Bylsma? Bylsma???

[Locke]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Holland saying the Wings weren't willing to give more than 5 years.

I have to say, this is one of the few times where I think Holland has made a mistake.

Term? They drew their line in the sand over term?

He was the coach of the Red Wings for 10 years and they balked at term?

[heep223]

lol ^ two guys happy to be there, vs. the two guys who are obviously looking to their future with dismay

[Locke]

Originally Posted by heep223

lol ^ two guys happy to be there, vs. the two guys who are obviously looking to their future with dismay

When you get hired by the Oilers you should get a jersey and a gun with only one bullet.

Just to be fair.

[dash_pinched]

I don't mean to Argo up this thread, but Ricky Foley is having a temper tantrum on Twitter:

Ricky Foley

✔ @Foley4Real
Dick move announcing Babcock news the day #Argos r finally sold. Guess some people still jealous we the only team who wins in this city @CFL

Ricky Foley

✔ @Foley4Real
And our Captains and vet leaders don't play like a bunch of soft ass punks with no emotion or passion for the game or its fans... #NHL

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Locke

I have to say, this is one of the few times where I think Holland has made a mistake.

Term? They drew their line in the sand over term?

He was the coach of the Red Wings for 10 years and they balked at term?

As good as Babcock has done in the regular season his team's haven't exactly been world beaters in the playoffs since their back to back trips against the Penguins. I don't blame them for drawing the line at 5 years as even the best sports relationships run their course.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

I don't mean to Argo up this thread, but Ricky Foley is having a temper tantrum on Twitter:

Ricky Foley

✔ @Foley4Real
Dick move announcing Babcock news the day #Argos r finally sold. Guess some people still jealous we the only team who wins in this city @CFL

Ricky Foley

✔ @Foley4Real
And our Captains and vet leaders don't play like a bunch of soft ass punks with no emotion or passion for the game or its fans... #NHL

You have to admit the timing is not very good and there's no really good reason that the Leafs and Babcock couldn't announce this tomorrow.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Well a few thoughts come to mind.

-Babcock earned this deal: To put it mildly there are few coaches in the game today that have the pedigree of Babcock. Quenneville is the only other one to come to mind immediately. He's done a fantastic job at every level and often gets more out of his team than the talent would suggest.

-Babcock has always had good players: Looking back to Anaheim teams in the early 2000s the teams weren't amazing but had some high end talent, and then in Detroit with plenty of legendary talent through his tenure there he always did well. He's often been the beneficiary of a strong team constructed by a good GM. We will have to wait and see how he does without a well constructed team.

-Babcock is a proven winner: He's done it at every level, and with consistency. He's only missed the playoffs One Time in his time as an NHL head coach. That's impressive by itself, especially with increased parity due to the salary cap era. In 23 years coaching all the way through junior, AHL, and NHL he's missed the playoff a total of three times. The other two coming in junior where massive roster turnover occurs regularly. His teams have NEVER missed the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. The guy finds a way to get it done.

It was never so obvious as when he did it this year with the current Red Wings team. No more Lidstrom, aging stars in Zetterberg and Datsyuk no longer putting up their normal point totals. Relying on extremely inexperienced players like Tatar, Nyqvist, and Mrazek to be key contributors after declining play from Jimmy Howard, and a completely missing Johan "Mule" Franzen. The bulk of the roster is filled with decent NHL players, but was a team that won because of strong team work ethic and commitment to Babcock's systems. Just about any other coach would likely have missed the playoffs with that roster.

-Babcock has work to do in Toronto: By all accounts there is a broken culture around the Maple Leafs. Shanahan had to do the ugly work by clearing house and allowing for something to to arise. The problem is, he wasn't able to clear the roster of all the underperforming, and possibly toxic, players/assets. If anyone can restore a professional and cohesive atmosphere in a dressing room, it would be Babcock, but it won't be easy and it will likely take most of a season to get some semblance of a competitive team.

-The Leafs still need a GM: This is the most puzzling one to me. Most GMs hire their own coach, but obviously Babcock supersedes that hierarchy. It speaks to the idea that Babcock will likely be groomed to be a GM in Toronto. However, usually you need an experienced GM to do so, and Shanahan isn't that, and the most experienced guy available was just signed in Edmonton. Babcock will likely be involved in roster decisions, and the GM will be more of a "contract" guy that will handle the day to day business affairs and be less of a personnel guy. Jay Feaster anyone? One has to wonder if they aren't setting Babcock up for failure down the road by giving him too much power without enough experience handling those duties. The fishbowl of Toronto is also very unforgiving for poor decisions, which can kill an inexperienced GM's future.

All in all, I still fail to see a plan for Toronto to fix things effectively, but Babcock is an impressive start. However, the way Edmonton did it by hiring Nicholson as president, picking up Chiarelli to be GM, and then hiring a good coach in McLellan might just set them up for more success in the near future than what the Leafs have done by handing the keys over to Babcock, and praying he turns it around all by himself.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

I don't mean to Argo up this thread, but Ricky Foley is having a temper tantrum on Twitter:

Ricky Foley

✔ @Foley4Real
Dick move announcing Babcock news the day #Argos r finally sold. Guess some people still jealous we the only team who wins in this city @CFL

Ricky Foley

✔ @Foley4Real
And our Captains and vet leaders don't play like a bunch of soft ass punks with no emotion or passion for the game or its fans... #NHL

He's not wrong on either account. Pretty much just whining though. Must be frustrating to be a CFL player.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

As good as Babcock has done in the regular season his team's haven't exactly been world beaters in the playoffs since their back to back trips against the Penguins. I don't blame them for drawing the line at 5 years as even the best sports relationships run their course.

Great. So fire him. How many coaches actually last through their entire contracts?

[getbak]

Honestly, which contract would you prefer to have on the books? Phaneuf for another 6 years for $42 million; or Babcock for another 8 years for $50 million?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by getbak

Honestly, which contract would you prefer to have on the books? Phaneuf for another 6 years for $42 million; or Babcock for another 8 years for $50 million?

Babcock. Every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[Robbob]

I see the front and not the back. As I said I don't recall the jersey having the coach name on it.

Originally Posted by verda13

[thefoss1957]

Babcock was successful with a team that had talent, a good front office in place, and a history of success...

Good luck to him in a pressure cooker, with impatient fans, hostile press, and dreck on the roster!

Toronto is a recipe for fail, that even a HOF caliber coach will struggle with

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by getbak

Honestly, which contract would you prefer to have on the books? Phaneuf for another 6 years for $42 million; or Babcock for another 8 years for $50 million?

Babcock. The pedigree I guess you can call it far supercedes a slow, poor decision making D man who's best years are clearly behind him.

Babcock brings winning culture. Very much the same as what the Flames have done the past two seasons. Put the right guy on the bench and hold the players accountable, worth every penny you're investing in.

[Vinny01]

Buffalo is getting what they deserved. One of the most blatant tank jobs ever witnessed and they miss out on McDavid and Babcock. Hate that those 2 are going to the Oilers and Leafs but still the Sabres embarrassed themselves this year with their tank strategy.

I am sure Eichel will be a special player and they will get a decent coach but glad their plans are currently failing

[Superfraggle]

Timing may not be great with the Argos sale, but didn't he state like a week ago that he was planning to make his decision today?

[Da_Chief]

Babcock has won everything and now has hit the jackpot.

He's 52 now. When the contract expires he will be 60, at which point he can peacefully retire. If he got Toronto a cup he will be legendary if not he can walk away with $50, 000, 000.00 dollars.

Pressure or not, win or lose Babcock has already won this whole thing and set a new bar for coaches in the future.