Coach Mike Babcock

[herman]

Horachek's approach to systems is not far off from what Babcock will likely implement.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2015/05/26/exploring-mike-babcocks-systems/

Due to lacking a strong defense core, Babcock has pushed the players to tighten up throughout the rink in order to provide support and protection. ?We keep the D short, not much distance between the defense and the forwards,? Nik Kronwall said in this article.

?[Coach Mike Babcock] talks about it a lot, playing as a five-man unit in the offensive and defensive zones. When you do that and you play with speed, it ultimately takes away chances,? notes Luke Glendening.

You should read the rest of the analysis.

 

[Highlander]

So who is staying and who goes, who can wipe the stench of last season off themselves and step up? Do we want Cody back, he seems to love the team?
The ones who can definetly go:  Bozak, Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Polak, Bernier
I would keep, JVR, Kadri, Komorov, Holland, Riemer, Reilly, Gardner

 

[LuncheonMeat]

So who is staying and who goes, who can wipe the stench of last season off themselves and step up? Do we want Cody back, he seems to love the team?
The ones who can definetly go:  Bozak, Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Polak, Bernier
I would keep, JVR, Kadri, Komorov, Holland, Riemer, Reilly, Gardner

Babcock mentioned how much respect he has for Hunter, and noted a number of times that the organization needs to put draft picks in his hands.  There's really only one way to put more picks in his hands, which is to move assets.  Moving assets, especially Phaneuf and Kessel, means taking bad contracts back.

I can't imagine the Leafs bring back Franson.  It would mean at least 5 years and probably at least $5 million per.  I think we're going to see some older vets who come back in deals, and some FA signings like Winnik and Santorelli on 1-year deals.  Let the vets play during the rebuild, and trade the FAs at the deadline for further assets.  Rinse and repeat for the next couple of years.

 

[mr grieves]

Babcock mentioned how much respect he has for Hunter, and noted a number of times that the organization needs to put draft picks in his hands.  There's really only one way to put more picks in his hands, which is to move assets.  Moving assets, especially Phaneuf and Kessel, means taking bad contracts back.

That's fine and all, in theory, but what sort of assets do you think they should be aiming to get for either of those guys? Question's about timing more than anything.

 

[Andy007]

So who is staying and who goes, who can wipe the stench of last season off themselves and step up? Do we want Cody back, he seems to love the team?
The ones who can definetly go:  Bozak, Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Polak, Bernier
I would keep, JVR, Kadri, Komorov, Holland, Riemer, Reilly, Gardner

Babcock mentioned how much respect he has for Hunter, and noted a number of times that the organization needs to put draft picks in his hands.  There's really only one way to put more picks in his hands, which is to move assets.  Moving assets, especially Phaneuf and Kessel, means taking bad contracts back.

Are people really of the opinion that the only way to move Kessel is to take a bad contract back? The guy with 3 consecutive top 6 goal and point seasons (playing with a bottom 6 centre, nonetheless) prior to last season?

Personally I think most teams will look at the Leafs this year, especially in regards to the second half, and note that with Lupul, Komarov and Holland on the IR and with Winnik, Santorelli and Franson traded there was so little depth on the team that Kessel's drop in production was not just an anomoly but completely warranted.

You can get a great pick (or picks) for Kessel without taking back a bad contract. I can't fathom how much this guy gets underrated or written off despite the numbers he's put up almost single-handedly.

 

[Kin]

You can get a great pick (or picks) for Kessel without taking back a bad contract. I can't fathom how much this guy gets underrated or written off despite the numbers he's put up almost single-handedly.

I really think it's less of an indictment on Kessel than you think. I think it's just an acknowledgement of the cap situation right now.

I said this to Carlton when we were talking about Kessel being dealt to the Devils possibly for their #6 pick but that trade makes almost no sense to me. You're right, Kessel is a talented scorer and his bad year won't erase that. But I think other teams would be right to look at him and say that they don't want to make the mistake the Leafs did where they bring him on as a foundational piece without having a good offensive framework he fits into, where he's not the lone all-star. Where he can be that complimentary piece that allows a team looking to take the next step to do so.

So then you have to be realistic about dealing Kessel to a team like that and their capacity to absorb his salary. Pittsburgh, who despite having two of the games best players, only finished 19th in goals per game would make some sense but there's no way they could take on another 8 million dollar salary without dumping money back.

Even an up and comer like Florida. Florida(25th in scoring) right now is at 60 million in cap commitments for next year. They have to re-sign RFA's like Huberdeau and Hayes, have to make a tough decision on Upshall and keep an eye on next year's RFA's like Barkov and Gudbranson. Taking on Kessel's cap hit and the years left? That could be a major obstacle for them to add a piece that, I agree, they could use. Kessel is a good player but the cap is coming for everyone.

So if Florida says, we want Kessel and can live with the picks/prospects you want but in order to make this work you have to take back Bolland, I mean...that's something the Leafs will have to consider and it's pretty likely that a similar condition will come no matter where they go. It doesn't mean Kessel's bad, it just means that he's got a bit of anchor right now.

 

[freer]

So who is staying and who goes, who can wipe the stench of last season off themselves and step up? Do we want Cody back, he seems to love the team?
The ones who can definetly go:  Bozak, Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Polak, Bernier
I would keep, JVR, Kadri, Komorov, Holland, Riemer, Reilly, Gardner

Highlander, I like your list, I change Polak for Gardner. IMO had enough of weak plays.

 

[Andy007]

You can get a great pick (or picks) for Kessel without taking back a bad contract. I can't fathom how much this guy gets underrated or written off despite the numbers he's put up almost single-handedly.

I really think it's less of an indictment on Kessel than you think. I think it's just an acknowledgement of the cap situation right now.

I said this to Carlton when we were talking about Kessel being dealt to the Devils possibly for their #6 pick but that trade makes almost no sense to me. You're right, Kessel is a talented scorer and his bad year won't erase that. But I think other teams would be right to look at him and say that they don't want to make the mistake the Leafs did where they bring him on as a foundational piece without having a good offensive framework he fits into, where he's not the lone all-star. Where he can be that complimentary piece that allows a team looking to take the next step to do so.

So then you have to be realistic about dealing Kessel to a team like that and their capacity to absorb his salary. Pittsburgh, who despite having two of the games best players, only finished 19th in goals per game would make some sense but there's no way they could take on another 8 million dollar salary without dumping money back.

Even an up and comer like Florida. Florida(25th in scoring) right now is at 60 million in cap commitments for next year. They have to re-sign RFA's like Huberdeau and Hayes, have to make a tough decision on Upshall and keep an eye on next year's RFA's like Barkov and Gudbranson. Taking on Kessel's cap hit and the years left? That could be a major obstacle for them to add a piece that, I agree, they could use. Kessel is a good player but the cap is coming for everyone.

So if Florida says, we want Kessel and can live with the picks/prospects you want but in order to make this work you have to take back Bolland, I mean...that's something the Leafs will have to consider and it's pretty likely that a similar condition will come no matter where they go. It doesn't mean Kessel's bad, it just means that he's got a bit of anchor right now.

Actually I agree with all of your points. I guess I just took issue with the way the op worded 'having to move' Kessel as if he were some kind of albatross. Obviously salary cap has to be taken into consideration, particularly if a trading partner is up against the cap.

Receiving some great picks/prospects might mean having to take on Bolland, sure,  but I don't think they'd have to take on a contract like Bolland just to receive a single good 1st, or a decent 1st and an average prospect(s).

 

[Kin]

Receiving some great picks/prospects might mean having to take on Bolland, sure,  but I don't think they'd have to take on a contract like Bolland just to receive a single good 1st, or a decent 1st and an average prospect(s).

You're probably right about that but I think that not taking back a contract like that(or at least some bad money) would severely limit who they could talk trade with and, resultingly, almost certainly drive Kessel's price down. A lot of teams just won't have the room to add him otherwise.

 

[LuncheonMeat]

So who is staying and who goes, who can wipe the stench of last season off themselves and step up? Do we want Cody back, he seems to love the team?
The ones who can definetly go:  Bozak, Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Polak, Bernier
I would keep, JVR, Kadri, Komorov, Holland, Riemer, Reilly, Gardner

Babcock mentioned how much respect he has for Hunter, and noted a number of times that the organization needs to put draft picks in his hands.  There's really only one way to put more picks in his hands, which is to move assets.  Moving assets, especially Phaneuf and Kessel, means taking bad contracts back.

Are people really of the opinion that the only way to move Kessel is to take a bad contract back? The guy with 3 consecutive top 6 goal and point seasons (playing with a bottom 6 centre, nonetheless) prior to last season?

Personally I think most teams will look at the Leafs this year, especially in regards to the second half, and note that with Lupul, Komarov and Holland on the IR and with Winnik, Santorelli and Franson traded there was so little depth on the team that Kessel's drop in production was not just an anomoly but completely warranted.

You can get a great pick (or picks) for Kessel without taking back a bad contract. I can't fathom how much this guy gets underrated or written off despite the numbers he's put up almost single-handedly.

Like Nik said, this has nothing to do with Kessel's or Phaneuf's value or ability.  No one is going to take on another $8 million in salary without being able to send a similar dollar total back the other way.  There will be very few teams that have that space available, and of the teams that do I don't imagine any GM makes a  move like that.

 

[Big Daddy]

I would love to keep Kessel and somehow get Thornton to feed the puck to him and JVR.  He can also mentor Strome.  San Jose is probably done with him going forward.  He is 35 and got 50 assists last year.  Wouldn't take much going back.  San Jose would lose almost 7M from payroll. Would love to see this line under Babcock.  Would also love to acquire a partner for Phaneuf.

 

[rdowdall]

So who is staying and who goes, who can wipe the stench of last season off themselves and step up? Do we want Cody back, he seems to love the team?
The ones who can definetly go:  Bozak, Phaneuf, Kessel, Lupul, Polak, Bernier
I would keep, JVR, Kadri, Komorov, Holland, Riemer, Reilly, Gardner

Babcock mentioned how much respect he has for Hunter, and noted a number of times that the organization needs to put draft picks in his hands.  There's really only one way to put more picks in his hands, which is to move assets.  Moving assets, especially Phaneuf and Kessel, means taking bad contracts back.

Are people really of the opinion that the only way to move Kessel is to take a bad contract back? The guy with 3 consecutive top 6 goal and point seasons (playing with a bottom 6 centre, nonetheless) prior to last season?

Personally I think most teams will look at the Leafs this year, especially in regards to the second half, and note that with Lupul, Komarov and Holland on the IR and with Winnik, Santorelli and Franson traded there was so little depth on the team that Kessel's drop in production was not just an anomoly but completely warranted.

You can get a great pick (or picks) for Kessel without taking back a bad contract. I can't fathom how much this guy gets underrated or written off despite the numbers he's put up almost single-handedly.

Like Nik said, this has nothing to do with Kessel's or Phaneuf's value or ability.  No one is going to take on another $8 million in salary without being able to send a similar dollar total back the other way.  There will be very few teams that have that space available, and of the teams that do I don't imagine any GM makes a  move like that.

Hitchcock made mention of how the Blues need to get quicker.  He said this because he thinks the 4 teams left are the quickest in the league.  Kessel is pretty quick.  Again, their would have to be some cap management that goes on, but maybe he could be moved to the Blues.

 

[herman]

I would love to keep Kessel and somehow get Thornton to feed the puck to him and JVR.  He can also mentor Strome.  San Jose is probably done with him going forward.  He is 35 and got 50 assists last year.  Wouldn't take much going back.  San Jose would lose almost 7M from payroll. Would love to see this line under Babcock.  Would also love to acquire a partner for Phaneuf.

That would've been nice to see maybe 3-4 years ago. It does not appear to be the plan going forward (i.e. get picks into Hunter's hands; develop the youth; rebuild on the new template).

The current team is going to be stripped down as soon as their component value returns a useful yield. Babcock will help in rehabbing some of the tarnished names (Phaneuf, Kessel), but they'll still be moved eventually for more than if they were moved last year. We'll take back bad shorter-term contracts on top of the actual return (picks/prospects) and Babcock will help rehab those players too, and we'll spin them off for even more picks when the market is amenable (see: Jokinen).

 

[Highlander]

Good post Herman, totally agree

 

[Deebo]

I just saw Mike Babcock on Bay St., in front of my office.

 

[ZBBM]

I just saw Mike Babcock on Bay St., in front of my office.

Did you shake his chin?

 

[Zee]

I just saw Mike Babcock on Bay St., in front of my office.

"Mike can I buy you a coffee and discuss line combinations and strategy for the upcoming season?"

 

[jdh1]

I just saw Mike Babcock on Bay St., in front of my office.

He's probably checking out how many loonies he can get for his $50 million U.S. dollars.

 

[Kin]

I just saw Mike Babcock on Bay St., in front of my office.

He's probably checking out how many loonies he can get for his $50 million U.S. dollars.

Hey yeah, in all the hubbub in his deal nobody mentioned how 50 million in Canada will go further.

 

[Average Joes]

I just saw Mike Babcock on Bay St., in front of my office.

He's probably checking out how many loonies he can get for his $50 million U.S. dollars.

Hey yeah, in all the hubbub in his deal nobody mentioned how 50 million in Canada will go further.

It is a good point.  You would then have to consider that goods in Michigan are generally cheaper as is housing compared to Toronto. Your probably still ahead in Toronto after the exchange considering those are smaller items compared to his salary. I have no clue about income or investment tax differences.