Of Nonis, Babcock & who the heck is going to be running this asylum on draft day

[Chev-boyar-sky]

@mirtle
Leafs do have hires coming. Talk is that former Knights coach Lindsay Hofford is one, in some role. Had been pursued by OHL clubs to be GM.

#Gamechanger

 

[Kin]

So not for nothing or nothing but it really seems like Babcock is only going to be in one of Detroit, Buffalo and Toronto. Whatever choice he makes, it's not going to be an easy road to a cup.

 

[caver]

the Babcock saga is getting old ( for me )..unless he can turn water into wine I'm hoping they look at DeBoer..McLellan..possibly Dale Hunter..heck, I would look at Paul Maurice is he was available...  :-\

 

[jdh1]

So not for nothing or nothing but it really seems like Babcock is only going to be in one of Detroit, Buffalo and Toronto. Whatever choice he makes, it's not going to be an easy road to a cup.

A couple of sport columnists on channel 2 out of Detroit last night said if Babcock stays with Detroit,it will be like backing in to retain his old job.It's eating a little humble pie.They are guessing he'll go with Buffalo.

 

[skrackle]

So not for nothing or nothing but it really seems like Babcock is only going to be in one of Detroit, Buffalo and Toronto. Whatever choice he makes, it's not going to be an easy road to a cup.

A couple of sport columnists on channel 2 out of Detroit last night said if Babcock stays with Detroit,it will be like backing in to retain his old job.It's eating a little humble pie.They are guessing he'll go with Buffalo.

I don't get that line of thinking. Babcock has earned the right to look around and see if there's a job that would tempt him away from Detroit. If Babcock stays in Detroit, then he's obviously decided that's the best fit for him. I don't see any humble pie being eaten. Sounds like a typical sports media stir the pot thing.

 

[Mike1]

Figure we should be finding out where the Leafs stand pretty soon. Is it an encouraging sign that they haven't been ruled out?

If they thought they had no chance then they probably would have moved on like Philly & hired they're own guy. Or are they going to wait for a GM to be hired?

 

[Kin]

Is it an encouraging sign that they haven't been ruled out?

Maybe but I think if Babcock had ruled the Leafs out we probably wouldn't know anyway until he made his decision.

I think the really encouraging sign is that a lot of what people said in the "The Leafs have no chance" camp seems to not be true. We heard a lot of "Babcock isn't interested in a rebuild" but the only teams he's choosing between are rebuilding ones and Detroit. We heard a lot of "Babcock doesn't care about money, he can go anywhere he wants and get a blank check" but considering reports are that Buffalo and Toronto are the only teams that even contacted Detroit during this period that seems to be bogus too. Teams like Philly and Edmonton, and especially a team like St. Louis, might very well look at Babcock and genuinely question whether any coach is worth a gigantic salary.

Chiefly, though, we heard "Babcock only wants to go where he has the clearest path to a cup" but of the three times involved...none of them have that. I don't know how you stack them. Detroit has the most talent on their roster but not the high level young assets, Buffalo has the high level young assets but the least talent on their roster by a considerable margin. The Leafs are somewhere in the middle.

 

[Al14]

Is it an encouraging sign that they haven't been ruled out?

Maybe but I think if Babcock had ruled the Leafs out we probably wouldn't know anyway until he made his decision.

I think the really encouraging sign is that a lot of what people said in the "The Leafs have no chance" camp seems to not be true. We heard a lot of "Babcock isn't interested in a rebuild" but the only teams he's choosing between are rebuilding ones and Detroit. We heard a lot of "Babcock doesn't care about money, he can go anywhere he wants and get a blank check" but considering reports are that Buffalo and Toronto are the only teams that even contacted Detroit during this period that seems to be bogus too. Teams like Philly and Edmonton, and especially a team like St. Louis, might very well look at Babcock and genuinely question whether any coach is worth a gigantic salary.

Chiefly, though, we heard "Babcock only wants to go where he has the clearest path to a cup" but of the three times involved...none of them have that. I don't know how you stack them. Detroit has the most talent on their roster but not the high level young assets, Buffalo has the high level young assets but the least talent on their roster by a considerable margin. The Leafs are somewhere in the middle.

If Babcock wants to become the most revered, and, the most worshiped NHL coach, the team to do that with is the Toronto Maple Leafs.  This is the team that has one of, if not the largest, fan bases in the world.  Taking this team from nothing, to winning a Stanley Cup, would elevate him to hero status very quickly.

Also, what other team could he cash in on a huge paycheque, and, be given some power to build a team?  Babcock, and Shanahan, should team up and bring a Stanley Cup to Toronto.

I'm not so sure Babcock has the balls to come.  LOL

 

[Kin]

Also, what other team could he cash in on a huge paycheque, and, be given some power to build a team?

Well, Buffalo. Pegula is apparently willing to pay just about any price and between Girgenson, Reinhart and Eichel they'll be starting off with some really nice pieces down the middle as well as other interesting ones(Grigorenko, Ristolainen, Zadorov). Then they've got picks 21, 31 and 51 in this year's draft so...that looks like a hell of a starting point to build a team.

 

[ZBBM]

I think it's well past time to panic.

Edmonton got their coach.

Philadelphia got their coach.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE OURS?!?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Since it looks like the Leafs aren't a factor here anymore and this saga is close to an end, I've moved the Babcock talks to the general NHL board:

http://www.tmlfans.ca/community/index.php?topic=3097.msg228082

 

[Joe S.]

I think it's well past time to panic.

Edmonton got their coach.

Philadelphia got their coach.

WHY DON'T WE HAVE OURS?!?

I'm not sure if you're serious or not .. But who cares? Why do the leafs need a coach now? Especially before a GM is hired?

GMs make or break teams, not coaches.

 

[Peter D.]

I'd like to see the axe to fall on Morrison now.  One last firing I'm looking for Shanahan to make. 

Doubtful it happens a month prior to the draft however.  After that, who knows.

 

[Highlander]

Why would they pay Morrison when Dubas and Hunter are seeing a zillion games a year and with a better eye (I bet).