Coach Mike Babcock

[rdowdall]

I think we're sort of seeing the best case scenario here for the impact of coaching on a team. Going from a pretty terrible coach(Carlyle/Horacheck dealing with the mess Carlyle made) to a very good one is probably as extreme a swing as you're likely to see.

While the stats are positive, they may be a little inflated because teams haven't expected the Leafs to be as competitive as they have been.  When the season starts to wind down and teams are fighting for their playoff lives, it may become harder for the Leafs to maintain the stats that they currently have.

 

[Kin]

While the stats are positive, they may be a little inflated because teams haven't expected the Leafs to be as competitive as they have been.  When the season starts to wind down and teams are fighting for their playoff lives, it may become harder for the Leafs to maintain the stats that they currently have.

That's certainly possible. My point was just about the on-going debate about how much impact a coach can ever really have. I think right now we're seeing the most extreme example positive of a one year swing in coaching and the result is going from a terrible team to a marginally less terrible team.

 

[ZBBM]

While I think he manages to oversell the (low, as he eadmits) possibility of the team making the playoffs, the general point is right on the money.  But Babcock won't win the Jack until the team makes the playoffs.

I'd bet everything that I own on Babcock winning the Jack Adams the first season he gets the Leafs into the playoffs.

I wouldn't.  When it comes to the Leafs, there is a certain amount of bias to be overcome.

 

[rdowdall]

While the stats are positive, they may be a little inflated because teams haven't expected the Leafs to be as competitive as they have been.  When the season starts to wind down and teams are fighting for their playoff lives, it may become harder for the Leafs to maintain the stats that they currently have.

That's certainly possible. My point was just about the on-going debate about how much impact a coach can ever really have. I think right now we're seeing the most extreme example positive of a one year swing in coaching and the result is going from a terrible team to a marginally less terrible team.

True.  This is probably one of those times that people will point to say look at how much impact a coach can have.  I think the real test will be next year.  If you asked Dave Cameron, I think he would say that this year is a little more difficult than last.

 

[Kin]

I'd bet everything that I own on Babcock winning the Jack Adams the first season he gets the Leafs into the playoffs.

The voters for the Adams seem to really like two narratives. Either it's the "they weren't very good, hired a new guy and got better" one or it's the "Off-season predictions we made were they'd be bad, then they were good, so clearly it was coaching magic" one.

It seems unlikely that either will apply to Babcock as he's likely to oversee slow and steady improvement. The only way I see him winning it is if the first year the Leafs make the playoffs they have a 105+ point season or thereabouts.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I wouldn't.  When it comes to the Leafs, there is a certain amount of bias to be overcome.

The award is voted on by broadcasters, not the media. I think generally speaking they're easier on the Leafs when it comes to bias. And most revere Babcock.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

The voters for the Adams seem to really like two narratives. Either it's the "they weren't very good, hired a new guy and got better" one or it's the "Off-season predictions we made were they'd be bad, then they were good, so clearly it was coaching magic" one.

It seems unlikely that either will apply to Babcock as he's likely to oversee slow and steady improvement. The only way I see him winning it is if the first year the Leafs make the playoffs they have a 105+ point season or thereabouts.

You're not wrong about how the Jack Adams narratives typically play out, I just feel like there will be an exception for Babcock in this case. Him winning it when the Leafs finally make the playoffs will almost be a recognition of all the hard work he's done to tranform the Leafs from laughing stock to playoff team. Regardless of how many years it takes. That'll be a huge storyline throughout whatever season that occurs in and the broadcasters will eat it up.

He's also of course never won the award before and I'm sure the voters would like to rectify that as soon as they can. I mean that shouldn't come into play but I've seen voters for the Norris trophy talk in the past about how it should be Shea Weber's turn one of these years.

 

[Kin]

He's also of course never won the award before and I'm sure the voters would like to rectify that as soon as they can. I mean that shouldn't come into play but I've seen voters for the Norris trophy talk in the past about how it should be Shea Weber's turn one of these years.

So, essentially, the hockey version of The Departed?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

He's also of course never won the award before and I'm sure the voters would like to rectify that as soon as they can. I mean that shouldn't come into play but I've seen voters for the Norris trophy talk in the past about how it should be Shea Weber's turn one of these years.

So, essentially, the hockey version of The Departed?

Right. It's also a lot like Leo doing The Revenant. Tremendous actor who was surely deserving of multiple Oscars in the past. Decides to take on a job that he knows will definitely push him to the limits, and be both mentally and physically exhausting for a long period of time. But will almost surely finally give him that one personal achievement that's been missing on his resume.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

He's also of course never won the award before and I'm sure the voters would like to rectify that as soon as they can. I mean that shouldn't come into play but I've seen voters for the Norris trophy talk in the past about how it should be Shea Weber's turn one of these years.

So, essentially, the hockey version of The Departed?

Right. It's also a lot like Leo doing The Revenant. Tremendous actor who was surely deserving of multiple Oscars in the past. Decides to take on a job that he knows will definitely push him to the limits, and be both mentally and physically exhausting for a long period of time. But will almost surely finally give him that one personal achievement that's been missing on his resume.

Man, Komarov's really done it all.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

He's also of course never won the award before and I'm sure the voters would like to rectify that as soon as they can. I mean that shouldn't come into play but I've seen voters for the Norris trophy talk in the past about how it should be Shea Weber's turn one of these years.

So, essentially, the hockey version of The Departed?

Right. It's also a lot like Leo doing The Revenant. Tremendous actor who was surely deserving of multiple Oscars in the past. Decides to take on a job that he knows will definitely push him to the limits, and be both mentally and physically exhausting for a long period of time. But will almost surely finally give him that one personal achievement that's been missing on his resume.

The ability to grow a beard?  :-X

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Some more crazy numbers from the analytics world:

@SteveBurtch 

TOR ranks 3rd in PP CF60, 1st in SCF60, 1st in HD-SCF60. They rank 1st in PK HD-SCA60, 3rd in SCA60, 3rd in CA60.

Basically these mean:
CF60 = Corsi For/60
SCF60 = Scoring Chances For/60
HD-SCF60 = High Danger Scoring Chances For/60
SCA60 = Scoring Chances Against/60
HD-SCA60 = High Danger Scoring Chances Against/60
SCA60 = Scoring Chances Against/60
CA60 = Corsi Against/60

 

[ZBBM]

I tell you, it's getting scary.  Babcock is like some kind of wizard or warlock or something, able to turn a bunch of losers into a team, a real, functioning team.  I have in my head a worst-case scenario:

* Team still sells off assets as per Shanaplan ... but it doesn't help because Babcock works his magic and gets the Marlies replacements to play way over their heads.  Bernier and Reimer continue to shine.
* We bop into playoffs.  Then ....
* Reimer tries the splits on the first save of Game 1 and his groin explodes. 
* Bernier comes in ... but instead of Bernier 2.1 we get Octobernier.  Leafs flushed in 4 games.
* We miss out on Matthews/Puljujarvi/Chychrun/Laine/everybody else.
* Season wasted.

I love Babcock, and he must be stopped at all costs.

 

[Arn]

8-2-2 the last 12 games (couple of them OT/SO wins, of course) but in all honesty did anyone expect this Leafs team to ever win 8 of 12 at any stage?

 

[hockeyfan1]

8-2-2 the last 12 games (couple of them OT/SO wins, of course) but in all honesty did anyone expect this Leafs team to ever win 8 of 12 at any stage?

In all honesty, no. 

 

[disco]

Hey guys, I heard that Mike Babcock is the Leafs new Coach!

 

[Highlander]

with Babcock you never know, he has some very talented players on the roster and when a guy like Komorav explodes and the rest of the cast of grinders play within a system you never really know. Also when Bernier faltered, Reimer played like a Vezina goalie, Sparks won a few games and Bernier rounds back to form giving some very good goaltending. Perhaps October was the anomaly and this is what we may come to expect based upon continue performance.
Certianly he has Gardiner and Phaneuf playing their best as Leafs and Rielly is becoming a force as well.
Let see how much of this team is sold off for picks or if the Leafs are in playoff contention in a few weeks do they see how far this bunch can take them?  I can't imagine the Suites not wanting to have some playoff revenue after all these years.

 

[dappleganger]

8-2-2 the last 12 games (couple of them OT/SO wins, of course) but in all honesty did anyone expect this Leafs team to ever win 8 of 12 at any stage?

Definitely not. maybe 5 of 12.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

with Babcock you never know, he has some very talented players on the roster and when a guy like Komorav explodes and the rest of the cast of grinders play within a system you never really know. Also when Bernier faltered, Reimer played like a Vezina goalie, Sparks won a few games and Bernier rounds back to form giving some very good goaltending. Perhaps October was the anomaly and this is what we may come to expect based upon continue performance.
Certianly he has Gardiner and Phaneuf playing their best as Leafs and Rielly is becoming a force as well.
Let see how much of this team is sold off for picks or if the Leafs are in playoff contention in a few weeks do they see how far this bunch can take them?  I can't imagine the Suites not wanting to have some playoff revenue after all these years.

Make no mistake, the Leafs will be selling at the deadline, results be damned.

 

[cabber24]

with Babcock you never know, he has some very talented players on the roster and when a guy like Komorav explodes and the rest of the cast of grinders play within a system you never really know. Also when Bernier faltered, Reimer played like a Vezina goalie, Sparks won a few games and Bernier rounds back to form giving some very good goaltending. Perhaps October was the anomaly and this is what we may come to expect based upon continue performance.
Certianly he has Gardiner and Phaneuf playing their best as Leafs and Rielly is becoming a force as well.
Let see how much of this team is sold off for picks or if the Leafs are in playoff contention in a few weeks do they see how far this bunch can take them?  I can't imagine the Suites not wanting to have some playoff revenue after all these years.

Make no mistake, the Leafs will be selling at the deadline, results be damned.

Komarov has to be a sell high candidate? He's a friggin all-star! I love his work ethic and what I think he does for the locker room but I would be very interested in seeing what he would yield in a trade. I don't think he will ever play as prominent role for any team as he does right now for the Leafs including the Leafs.