Coach Mike Babcock
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GhostofPotvin29
New member
Frank E said:
I don't think it's a stretch to say that this time it is okay to actually plan the parade route.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Might be of interest: Unique Team Traits: The Red Wings use a dangerous part of the ice to avoid getting hemmed in
That article discusses some things maybe we can expect to see from Babcock as coach.
That article discusses some things maybe we can expect to see from Babcock as coach.
LuncheonMeat
New member
If you guys/girls didn't hear it, Babcock's interview with Bob McCown this afternoon was fantastic. The link wasn't up on sportsnet.ca yet, but it is really worth a listen to.
He talked about making a Toronto a safe for the players, like he did earlier. He said look at how many players in the NHL are from Ontario, and that once this is a safe place we're going to see Ontario boys coming home to play. I believe he said 'mark my words'.
As soon as the stream is up I'll be tweeting it to Stamkos with a #ItsSafeToComeHomeNow
He talked about making a Toronto a safe for the players, like he did earlier. He said look at how many players in the NHL are from Ontario, and that once this is a safe place we're going to see Ontario boys coming home to play. I believe he said 'mark my words'.
As soon as the stream is up I'll be tweeting it to Stamkos with a #ItsSafeToComeHomeNow
Zee
Active member
L K said:
I'm excited too, but then again I've been excited anytime the Leafs trot out a new head guy and he's saying all the right things. I'm trying to be optimistic and hope that THIS TIME it's for real. The rebuild will be done correctly, no shortcuts, players will be held accountable and all that, but we'll see. It's encouraging that Shanahan cleaned house as effectively as he did a while back. I've never seen such a mass firing from a hockey club before, and honestly it was badly needed. Now that Shanahan has brought in a coach with the credibility that Babcock has not only in winning, but in working with younger players and developing them, the future looks brighter today than at any point in the last 10 years at least.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
Missed it earlier, but gotta say I like that how initially Babcock said he wasn't interested at all - but that it was Shanahan's insistence and the plan the management have that really got his attention. He said he knew the first time they met that the money was there, so it was really the plan that Shanahan and co. have that really made it happen.
I've got to say that's encouraging to me.
I've got to say that's encouraging to me.
LuncheonMeat said:
Here's the interview in full:
http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_demand-3/Mike-Babcock-with-Bob-McCown--PT-20150521-Interview.mp3
There is so much of note in this interview, but the thing that stands out the most is Babcock's pure sincerity. He's honest to a fault -- I'm constantly surprised by it.
Brilliant interview, really, and well worth the 20 minutes it takes to listen.
L K
Active member
I absolutely loved that presser.
A big part of the sell on Toronto was Peddie and co. in the front office agreeing to accept a building process. Shanahan laid out the plan right from the get-go and it was the consistency of the message that convinced Babcock.
Buffalo beat reporters are salty.
A big part of the sell on Toronto was Peddie and co. in the front office agreeing to accept a building process. Shanahan laid out the plan right from the get-go and it was the consistency of the message that convinced Babcock.
Buffalo beat reporters are salty.
LuncheonMeat
New member
I got a kick out of his comment about the 5-year out. That he asked for it and the Leafs said no way, and when he heard that he got totally pumped that they turned him down.
GhostofPotvin29
New member
L K said:
"He negotiated with more than just Buffalo and didn't choose Buffalo - what a joke!" basically.
Don't cozy up too much to the team there Buffalo media...
Heroic Shrimp
Active member
L K said:
I believe it's also the Kim Kardashian approach.
Highlander
Active member
That is funny H.S.
So the last two times that I can think of the Leafs going from one unheralded coach to a premier coach are the 1990 - 1991 to 1991 - 1992 season and the 1997 - 1998 to the 1998 - 1999 season. Here is a break down of those switches:
So in the case of transitioning from Tom Watt to Pat Burns, I find the drop in goals against interesting. Gilmour ended up playing 40 games in 1990 - 1991, and it would be interesting to compare the Leafs record before and after his acquisition to see what kind of impact he had. I definitely think that Burns improved the Leafs defensive play in the 1991-1992 season, but it's hard to know to what extent based on having Gilmour for a full year, and the addition of Bill Berg and Sylvain Lefebvre
In the case of the transition from Mike Murphy to Pat Quinn, I think Murphy may have gotten a raw deal. It's funny how Curtis Joseph gets a lot of credit for that turn around, but the GA numbers aren't really all that different. I think the turn around could be attributed to a better offense that was improved by the additions of Berard, Kaberle, and Steve Thomas.
I realize that if the Leafs tear down the team and ice something similar to what Buffalo did this year, that it doesn't matter if your coaching staff consists of Bowman, Al Arbour and Mike Babcock, they aren't going far. I do wonder though if a stellar coach can mean the difference between a 1st or 2nd overall pick and a 5th or 6th overall pick. I guess it depends on your opinion of Ted Nolan as a coach and where he ranks in comparison to Babcock. If you feel they are pretty close, then it really doesn't matter who your coach is, a bad team is going to finish at or near the bottom of the league.
The only other thing I would like to see is the trading of Phanuef and Kessel. Right now everyone is saying all of the right things, and there is no reason not to take them at face value. However if they don't move Phanuef or Kessel in the offseason, I would wonder if it was because they couldn't find the right deal, or if Babcock had a say in keeping them.
Tom Watt | Pat Burns |
| 1990 - 1991 | 1991 - 1992 |
| 30-43-7-0 | 44-29-11-0 |
| GF: 234 GA: 294 | GF: 288 GA: 241 |
| Players not on 1991 - 1992 team | Players added during 1991 - 1992 Season |
Brian Bradley Mike Bullard Ric Nattress Robert Cimetta Bob Halkidis Kevin Maguire Greg Johnston Kevin McClelland Grant Fuhr Todd Hawkins Len Esau | Nikolai Borschevsky John Cullen Dave Andreychuk Bill Berg Sylvain Lefebvre Bob McGill Ken McRae Daren Puppa |
| Mike Murphy | Pat Quinn |
| 1997-1998 | 1998-1999 |
| 30-43-9-0 | 45-30-7-0 |
| GF: 194 GA: 237 | GF: 268 GA: 231 |
| Players not on 1997 - 1998 team | Players added during 1998 - 1999 Season |
Mathieu Schneider Wendel Clark Jason Smith Darby Hendrickson Rob Zettler Martin Prochazka Jamie Baker David Cooper Marcel Cousineau Jeff Ware Craig Wolanin Felix Potvin | Steve Thomas Garry Valk Alexander Karpovtsev Tomas Kaberle Bryan Berard Curtis Joseph Ladislav Kohn Dallas Eakins Chris McAllister Adam Mair Jeff Reese Kevin Dahl |
So in the case of transitioning from Tom Watt to Pat Burns, I find the drop in goals against interesting. Gilmour ended up playing 40 games in 1990 - 1991, and it would be interesting to compare the Leafs record before and after his acquisition to see what kind of impact he had. I definitely think that Burns improved the Leafs defensive play in the 1991-1992 season, but it's hard to know to what extent based on having Gilmour for a full year, and the addition of Bill Berg and Sylvain Lefebvre
In the case of the transition from Mike Murphy to Pat Quinn, I think Murphy may have gotten a raw deal. It's funny how Curtis Joseph gets a lot of credit for that turn around, but the GA numbers aren't really all that different. I think the turn around could be attributed to a better offense that was improved by the additions of Berard, Kaberle, and Steve Thomas.
I realize that if the Leafs tear down the team and ice something similar to what Buffalo did this year, that it doesn't matter if your coaching staff consists of Bowman, Al Arbour and Mike Babcock, they aren't going far. I do wonder though if a stellar coach can mean the difference between a 1st or 2nd overall pick and a 5th or 6th overall pick. I guess it depends on your opinion of Ted Nolan as a coach and where he ranks in comparison to Babcock. If you feel they are pretty close, then it really doesn't matter who your coach is, a bad team is going to finish at or near the bottom of the league.
The only other thing I would like to see is the trading of Phanuef and Kessel. Right now everyone is saying all of the right things, and there is no reason not to take them at face value. However if they don't move Phanuef or Kessel in the offseason, I would wonder if it was because they couldn't find the right deal, or if Babcock had a say in keeping them.
ZBBM
Active member
Thanks guys for posting the interview with McCown. It was interesting indeed. Two observations:
1) He all but said that the only thing getting in the way of a long-term rebuild are the players ... pretty ominous if you ask me.
2) I think it's fantastic that he's here and committed to the total overhaul. I would just point out the Burke sounded every bit as confident, knowledgeable, and directed when he came on, and hopes were just as high. However -- big difference -- one thing that came through in the interview is that Babcock is committed to constantly learning, getting new ideas ... very much the opposite of Burke who felt he was on the high road to heaven and didn't need a map.
1) He all but said that the only thing getting in the way of a long-term rebuild are the players ... pretty ominous if you ask me.
2) I think it's fantastic that he's here and committed to the total overhaul. I would just point out the Burke sounded every bit as confident, knowledgeable, and directed when he came on, and hopes were just as high. However -- big difference -- one thing that came through in the interview is that Babcock is committed to constantly learning, getting new ideas ... very much the opposite of Burke who felt he was on the high road to heaven and didn't need a map.
Bender said:
LK likely meant Tanenbaum.
Kin
New member
Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate said:
I think there's an important distinction though. Hiring Burke was seen as a drastic shift in direction for the franchise, where not only would his hiring result in a markedly different roster than the one JFJ could build but a markedly different one than any of the other talented candidates might produce. As soon as Burke started talking about "retooling" and how the team really needed to get tougher, red flags were legitimately raised there.
Babcock isn't the same way. I think he's a good coach, maybe even one of the best, but I don't think that the team in two or three years, just in terms of personnel, is going to look drastically different than it would if the Leafs had ended up with Bylsma or Blashill.
If you'll forgive a bit of a tortured analogy, if the building of a team can be compared to starting a company then hiring a GM and that GM having a strategy can be likened to actually deciding on a product or service. You're deciding what the company will actually sell. Hiring a great coach is like hiring a great salesperson. He's not going to decide the success of the venture, lousy products are lousy products, but it can only ever be a good thing.