When Joel Quenneville was fired by the Chicago Blackhawks on November 6th, 2018, many across the hockey world were stunned. One of the most decorated coaches in the history of the NHL was thrown aside in favor of Jeremy Colliton, a second-round pick and journeyman player who had found new life in coaching but had no experience at the NHL level. Quickly, countless stories were written about how Quenneville could take his time and decide what was next for his career, knowing that someone would give him a job whenever he felt ready to get back behind the bench. That opportunity presented itself five months later when he was hired by the Florida Panthers and given a hefty, five-year contract.
Earlier this week, just over a year after Quenneville found himself watching Blackhawks games from ski chalets instead of the United Center bench, Mike Babcock experienced a similar career moment. The Toronto Maple Leafs decided to move on from their experienced coach in favor of Sheldon Keefe—a second-round pick and journeyman player who had found new life in coaching but had no experience at the NHL level.
Babcock can now enjoy the slopes himself while the Maple Leafs try to turn things around, knowing that he too will have jobs waiting for him in the NHL whenever he decides to return to the coaching arena.
One thing is different between the two men and their situations (other than the number of Stanley Cups they’ve won as head coaches, which Quenneville leads 3-1) however, and that is the money left on their remaining contract. In Quenneville’s case, the Blackhawks still owed him the remainder of his $6MM salary for 2018-19 and another $6MM for 2019-20. For another team to hire him, they would have to work out an agreement with the Blackhawks to cover either that entire salary or part of it.
In Babcock’s case however, things are a little more complicated. The former Maple Leafs’ bench boss had three more years on his deal after this one, and Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reports that each of those seasons carried a salary of $5.875MM. That’s a lot of money and term to still owe a coach that isn’t working for you any longer, and something that could make Babcock’s future employment a little tricky. The Maple Leafs could potentially tell an interested team that they want them to take on the whole deal, which is an amount that many wouldn’t be able (or willing) to afford.
The first team that comes to everyone’s mind is the Seattle expansion club, which doesn’t need a head coach until the 2021-22 season. Babcock could take some time to enjoy the unemployed life before being able to set the culture for a brand new franchise. That would mean watching all of next season from the sidelines though. His intentions aren’t clear at this point.
Where do you think he will end up, and when? Cast your vote for the team below, and make sure to explain your thoughts in the comments.
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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Nowhere. His time has come and gone. He is a stubborn, egotistical dinosaur.
Should be no where but I feel someone will be foolish enough to hire him.
Agreed
Boys on Overdrive have the same thought too. Saying that Babs is going to demand a 4 year contract and he’s not going to go to a losing team again so it severely limits the kind of team that will even kick the tires on him
Minnesota strikes me as a bit of an interesting fit –
Guerin will want to bring in his guy at some point, and Minnesota’s roster is much better equipped for the grind and defense style which suits Babcock much more than (what should be) a run and gun offense for the Leafs does.
It’s not perfect and I’m not convinced Minny’s roster is really good enough to compete long term in that division right now, but of all the teams listed I think I like it the best.
I retract my vote of Seattle if I could. No way Ron Francis brings that ego into his organization.
What about as an assistant in Montreal with Julien?
If the Leafs still have to pay him have him coach the Marlies.
Sitting next to Ron MacLean on Saturday nights?
The guy is a real dick to some of his players his stick wears off really fast. A real cancer in the clubhouse. He would be on my do not hire list.
Who cares? These guys are in the business of being hired to be fired and once they do they get the full paycheck to sit at home instead of working. I’ll never feel sorry for one of them.
Buffalo wanted him bad before, and their owner is a billionaire.
My guess is front office “player development” or scouting, which will inevitably will any team—especially those with a young coach who would feel his antiquated presence as coach-in-waiting.