Despite plenty of fans calling for his head, and some recent speculation given his connection with Ken Holland, Mike Babcock will be the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019-20. Bob McKenzie of TSN spoke to Toronto GM Kyle Dubas, who gave a full vote of confidence to his head coach:
We’re all in on Mike and Mike is all in on us. We’ve had productive management meetings as an organization and Mike and I have had some really good meetings as well since the season ended. It’s our very strong belief Mike is the one to lead us, that’s the reality of it.
Babcock, 56, still has four years left on his eight-year deal with the Maple Leafs, one which pays him $6.25MM per season. That kind of commitment wasn’t made without considerable faith in the veteran head coach, and won’t be dismissed so easily.
Speculation started when the Maple Leafs were eliminated in the first round for the third consecutive season, and Dubas refused to guarantee the coaching staff would be back, instead deflecting the question and explaining that everyone from the top down would be evaluated. It still would have been very surprising to see Toronto move on, given the growth they’ve experienced since Babcock joined the team.
Hired in 2015, the former Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings head coach promised pain to the fan base when he joined the club given the state of the team at the time. The Maple Leafs finished last in the NHL during that first season and won the draft lottery for the chance to select Auston Matthews, before immediately surprising the league in Babcock’s sophomore season. Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and other rookies carried the team to the playoffs where they showed plenty of fight against the Washington Capitals, only to lose in six games. Two consecutive seven-game series against the Boston Bruins followed, but the Maple Leafs eclipsed the 100-point mark in each year.
The vote of confidence in Babcock did not extend one way or the other to the assistant coaches, which is important to note given the presence of a Dubas hire sitting in the minor leagues. Sheldon Keefe, who worked with Dubas with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, has the Toronto Marlies undefeated in the Calder Cup playoffs and looking like they might repeat as AHL champions. Keefe could be a potential option for several coaching vacancies around the league, which only fueled the speculation around Babcock further.
Nooooooooo
Old head coach, stuck in his way. Wont get out of the first round.
Well duh. Leafs gave him that stupid contract. They’re chained to him for a long time to come. He’s a terribly stubborn old-school coach who refuses to change with the times. There are literally a dozen coaches who are better than him and they all make half or less than what he does. Rick Tocchet, Bruce Cassidy, Bill Peters, Rod Brind’Amour, Jared Bednar, John Tortorella, Jim Montgomery, Joel Quenneville, Claude Julien, Peter Laviolette, Barry Trotz, Mike Sullivan, Peter DeBoer, Craig Berube, John Cooper, Travis Green, Gerard Gallant, Paul Maurice. Most of them have done a considerably better job with far less talent (most not all).
Mano’s,
I completely agree….old dog not willing to change and adapt, however I will disagree to a one point.
The Leafs (MLSE) are a financial institution that has unlimited money. If they wanted to truly dump Babs they would do it in a heartbeat….they have buried many contracts and players not worrying about the financial ramifications.
Trouble is they must think they can get over the hump with him…
My only hope is that he does see the light and start to adapt, because he is a very good coach, just very stubborn and set in his ways…fingers crossed….
BDog
Yep. He’s definitely Lou’s coach though. Had Dubas had the reigns, I bet there’s no way Babcock would be behind the bench right now.
Because any other coach could get Nylander to sign earlier (not related) and coach a defence that was incredibly bad until Muzzin arrived (and even still is)
A coaching change wouldn’t do much
JD , another good point genius. Once again your posting on a leafs board. Damn if only your team had brains and could hire a good coach. Oh wait they have a check list for that lol. After trading away most of the talented players so to speak. Which you’ll have more years of losing before you truely see the fruits of that. Playoffs you’d be lucky to win a game!
Pawtucket is bang on.
Nylander should have been traded point blank. His lazy attitude on the ice and not wanting to be there hurt the room. That savings would have allowed more freedom to make moves at the trade deadline.
Clearly the defence is the Achilles heal right now. It has nothing to do with coaching. Why would he play Nylander on a top line with his lack of effort you can’t win with guys like that. Maybe you’d want him for your #7??
The simple fact is that the Toronto Maple Leafs love to lose. With Babcock they’ve ensured that for another year. I don’t know what it is with this organization but they just don’t know how to manage and Scout properly. Go find Poncho blacks ghost and you may get lucky. Babcock couldn’t coach a high school team.
That’s Punch Imlach ghosts
Watch Keefe get snapped up by an NHL rival, while Babcock’s one and done mediocrity continues until the wheels fall off!