Coach Mike Babcock

[Bill_Berg]

]

Had to laugh at this one.

 

[iwas11in67]

I like this signing.

We now have to trade 3, 81 and 42 and hoard as many picks and prospects as we can.

But boy are we in for the worst 2 seasons in team history.

Hopefully Babcock will make it easier to take.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

I like this signing.

We now have to trade 3, 81 and 42 and hoard as many picks and prospects as we can.

But boy are we in for the worst 2 seasons in team history.

Hopefully Babcock will make it easier to take.

It remains to be seen (and I hope I'm wrong), but I'll be surprised if we see more than 1 off-season trade. I'd be more than happy to see Kessel, Bozak and some others (JVR for the right return, Kadri, Gardiner, Lupul etc.) moved for prospects or top end picks (where applicable) but I think the team may have a harder time doing that now that they've publicly said they're re-building.

Again, I really hope I'm wrong. Hope opening night rolls around and I'm more interested in the plethora of young prospects on the Marlies, and watching the Leafs "try" to win without many (any) big names on the roster.

 

[Highlander]

Love the poster Bill Berg. Funny (and appropriate, I can't see freewheeling Phil in Babcocks world)

 

[Kin]

It remains to be seen (and I hope I'm wrong), but I'll be surprised if we see more than 1 off-season trade. I'd be more than happy to see Kessel, Bozak and some others (JVR for the right return, Kadri, Gardiner, Lupul etc.) moved for prospects or top end picks (where applicable) but I think the team may have a harder time doing that now that they've publicly said they're re-building.

Other teams aren't stupid. If the Leafs are looking to trade those guys, it'll get out. Publicly admitting it doesn't change that.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

http://twitter.com/CraigCustance/status/601845475617206274

Hiller was an assistant coach in Detroit this past season.  Previously won WHL Coach of the Year in 2012.

He apparently ran the Wings PP (which finished 2nd in the NHL this past season).

 

[Redleaf]

Nice to hear about Hiller. I hope the talent starts to follow Babcock to Toronto. And I don't just mean coaches and scouts!

 

[AvroArrow]

http://twitter.com/CraigCustance/status/601845475617206274

Hiller was an assistant coach in Detroit this past season.  Previously won WHL Coach of the Year in 2012.

He apparently ran the Wings PP (which finished 2nd in the NHL this past season).

Awesome!

 

[moon111]

I keep on hearing all kinds of accolades reaped upon Babcock.  I just found one that just tops them all.

He won the Cup with Brett Lebda. 

Actually when you look at how many games he gave a 5'-9" defenceman, it bodes well for some of the smaller player that might not of had a chance with previous regiments. 

 

[Zee]

I like this signing.

We now have to trade 3, 81 and 42 and hoard as many picks and prospects as we can.

But boy are we in for the worst 2 seasons in team history.

Hopefully Babcock will make it easier to take.

It remains to be seen (and I hope I'm wrong), but I'll be surprised if we see more than 1 off-season trade. I'd be more than happy to see Kessel, Bozak and some others (JVR for the right return, Kadri, Gardiner, Lupul etc.) moved for prospects or top end picks (where applicable) but I think the team may have a harder time doing that now that they've publicly said they're re-building.

Again, I really hope I'm wrong. Hope opening night rolls around and I'm more interested in the plethora of young prospects on the Marlies, and watching the Leafs "try" to win without many (any) big names on the roster.

I don't think it makes it harder. There's always teams looking to unload players and there are always teams who think they're 2 players away from a Cup run. If the Leafs want to unload I'm sure they can find teams willing to trade and give up picks and/or prospects.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I'm not going to lie.  I know the Leafs will be bad next year but I'm a little more than excited by the hiring than I thought I would be.  I'm at work right now but I really can't wait to get home and watch the presser myself.  I love the responses.

Before this got serious I said something like 'Babcock's a great coach but if he doesn't come here it wouldn't be a big deal'. I don't know if I just said that because I didn't think he'd be coming here, but like you I'm much more excited about what this could bring than I was a week ago.

The Babcock signing is ultimately way bigger news of way bigger positive importance than the Clarkson trade, but I have to admit I was nonetheless 10 times more overjoyed when Clarkson got traded than when I heard the Babcock news.  How sad is that?

I'm thrilled about the recurrent reiteration of the long, slow process of the rebuild.  Going forward, I think it's a point they need to keep hammering home to the fans and media, because despite how much the media have generally been on board with the need for a multi-year rebuild, it will buy the Leafs more time and more patience from the fans and particularly the media when things are coming along expectedly slowly in a couple of years.  If and when the pace of improvement is questioned in a few years, they'll be able to say, "look, we told you dummies it was going to take a few or more years, and you pretty much all agreed".  It's an unconventional management structure, but I like all the elements in the group and how they look to be working together.

 

[Leaflifer]

I'm not going to lie.  I know the Leafs will be bad next year but I'm a little more than excited by the hiring than I thought I would be.  I'm at work right now but I really can't wait to get home and watch the presser myself.  I love the responses.

Before this got serious I said something like 'Babcock's a great coach but if he doesn't come here it wouldn't be a big deal'. I don't know if I just said that because I didn't think he'd be coming here, but like you I'm much more excited about what this could bring than I was a week ago.

The Babcock signing is ultimately way bigger news of way bigger positive importance than the Clarkson trade, but I have to admit I was nonetheless 10 times more overjoyed when Clarkson got traded than when I heard the Babcock news.  How sad is that?

I'm thrilled about the recurrent reiteration of the long, slow process of the rebuild.  Going forward, I think it's a point they need to keep hammering home to the fans and media, because despite how much the media have generally been on board with the need for a multi-year rebuild, it will buy the Leafs more time and more patience from the fans and particularly the media when things are coming along expectedly slowly in a couple of years.  If and when the pace of improvement is questioned in a few years, they'll be able to say, "look, we told you dummies it was going to take a few or more years, and you pretty much all agreed".  It's an unconventional management structure, but I like all the elements in the group and how they look to be working together.

Yes., I can accept losing when there is a foundation being built. Considering I'm still here after a decade of directionless drivel, I think I can manage. I'll be interested to see how the media handles 3 or 4 more years of struggle, even if it is in the name of a proper rebuild.

The pressers have been the most optimistic I've heard in a loooong time. I'm still in shock from Peddie mouthing the words to Fletcher's comments, and Burke has always reminded me of Sather (personality, attitude), and I wouldn't have wanted either of those guys near a rebuild.

Maybe more than the Babcock signing, I like hearing how ownership is committed to the long term plan.

 

[dappleganger]

Babcock will have this team into the playoffs next year.

 

[AvroArrow]

Babcock will have this team into the playoffs next year.

I hope not.  Tank this shiznit up!

 

[hockeyfan1]

Babcock is already sounding like a breath of fresh air.  A positive and condident way of presenting himself and of the organization he just joined, as well as the team he will be guiding.

Welcome to Toronto, Mike!  Cheers!

 

[Highlander]

Believe me tank is not in the vocabulary of anyone in this new Leaf management. Shanahan and Dubas are assembling a managment team that will not tolerate non effort. They are either going to play the systems introduced by Babcock or they will be playing elsewhere. Full effort is not only going to be expected but demanded.
I never want to see the Leafs play like they did this past year, aimless without direction and  worst of all non effort.
So lets put Tank Nation away.  I think we are going to see a lot of players traded for picks this year with perhaps another 1 or 2 first rounders and certainly a couple of 2nd rounders added to what we already have.

 

[Bullfrog]

Full effort is expected by every NHL coach, ever. Tanking is a management strategy. Coaches and players will always play to win.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Believe me tank is not in the vocabulary of anyone in this new Leaf management. Shanahan and Dubas are assembling a managment team that will not tolerate non effort. They are either going to play the systems introduced by Babcock or they will be playing elsewhere. Full effort is not only going to be expected but demanded.
I never want to see the Leafs play like they did this past year, aimless without direction and  worst of all non effort.
So lets put Tank Nation away.  I think we are going to see a lot of players traded for picks this year with perhaps another 1 or 2 first rounders and certainly a couple of 2nd rounders added to what we already have.

That's exactly the impression I get from this group.  Effort in the broadest sense of that term, will be the name of the game, exhibited from all levels and transcending to the players -- ultimately where it counts results-wise the most.

 

[bustaheims]

So lets put Tank Nation away.  I think we are going to see a lot of players traded for picks this year with perhaps another 1 or 2 first rounders and certainly a couple of 2nd rounders added to what we already have.

So, we're going to see a stripped down roster like those we see on teams that are tanking? I don't think you really understand what "tanking" means. It's not about effort level. It's about icing a bad team - and the Leafs are going to be a bad team.

 

[lamajama]

My take on this is simply there's a lot of money here.
Why not.

The tools to do the job (Players) are not yet assembled if they ever do get to that part.
The coach can't score, and defend the players are responsible for that part.
Tucker's salary comes off the books this year.
1 Million

Anyone else comes off?  What about the (albeit low) dollars Nonis kept in those trades last year?