Leafs Next Coach?
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Highlander
Active member
You got #1 right.
Kin
New member
I don't have a strong opinion on who it should be but I do have to laugh at all of the people who say "It'll never be Babcock, that's a pipe dream" or something along those lines. All that has to happen in order for Babcock to become the coach of the Leafs is:
A) He's interested in making the most money possible
B) The Leafs are willing to pay him more than anyone else
I don't claim that either of those things are true but the idea that those two things can't be true is ridiculous.
A) He's interested in making the most money possible
B) The Leafs are willing to pay him more than anyone else
I don't claim that either of those things are true but the idea that those two things can't be true is ridiculous.
bustaheims
Active member
Nik the Trik said:
I'm confident in saying it won't be Babcock, but, you're right in that it's certainly not outside the realm of possibilities. I just don't see him joining a team that's basically going to be at the beginning of a full scale tear down and rebuild. I honestly don't see him leaving Detroit - and, if he does, it'll be to go to a team that's on the cusp of breaking through.
I'm actually not sure any of the really established guys will see the Leafs are a great opportunity right now. I think we're much more likely to see someone without a lot of NHL head coaching experience behind the Leafs' bench next season. So, probably no one on the list so far (maybe Hunter, because of his brother being in the team's front office, but, that's about it . . . Gilmour's a front office guy now).
I don't see Babcock coming to Toronto at this moment in time as likely.
The one thing that might change that is if they won the McDavid lottery.
I do think he'll command a top dollar wherever he goes so I doubt that's a gigantic issue. It might cut the small market clubs off his list but that's it.
Like any coach, he'd like a chance to win. It's going to take a while here. I don't think Scotty Bowman in his prime could survive the Toronto media for years and years.
From that, I'm not convinced they need to get a big name coach right now. They're going to bring in kids in a rebuild so they should focus on a teaching coach type for that.
I just don't see one coach coming in here right now and taking the Leafs to the promised land - though if anyone might have the ability, Babcock could make a decent case. It's just going to take too long and I think the media and maybe fans will turn on the coach before they're a true contender.
The one thing that might change that is if they won the McDavid lottery.
I do think he'll command a top dollar wherever he goes so I doubt that's a gigantic issue. It might cut the small market clubs off his list but that's it.
Like any coach, he'd like a chance to win. It's going to take a while here. I don't think Scotty Bowman in his prime could survive the Toronto media for years and years.
From that, I'm not convinced they need to get a big name coach right now. They're going to bring in kids in a rebuild so they should focus on a teaching coach type for that.
I just don't see one coach coming in here right now and taking the Leafs to the promised land - though if anyone might have the ability, Babcock could make a decent case. It's just going to take too long and I think the media and maybe fans will turn on the coach before they're a true contender.
L K
Active member
The one thing I agreed with Ron Wilson about when he talked about Toronto was something along the lines of "I won't be the guy here when they win". I think some of the rumblings about Babcock wanting to cement his legacy with a feather like winning with a team like Toronto are true. It's just far more likely that Babcock doesn't want to sit through 2-3 years of abysmal to teach a team that will then have to learn how to win in the playoffs.
But money can be an interesting equalizer. I do wonder if Babcock specifically is the right kind of guy to coach through a rebuild though. It seems like Detroit does pretty well with their youth in general but I really have a hard time judging how much of that has to do with Babcock and how much is related to Detroit's system of overcooking literally every single prospect regardless of calibre.
But money can be an interesting equalizer. I do wonder if Babcock specifically is the right kind of guy to coach through a rebuild though. It seems like Detroit does pretty well with their youth in general but I really have a hard time judging how much of that has to do with Babcock and how much is related to Detroit's system of overcooking literally every single prospect regardless of calibre.
Kin
New member
bustaheims said:
I tend to think that if you're ever in a situation where you're offered one option vs. the field that betting the field is usually pretty safe so, sure, I wouldn't bet on Babcock either. My point is just that lots of jobs get filled because of those two things. Is Mike Babcock particularly special in that regard? I don't know.
bustaheims said:
When it comes to how good an opportunity it is in Toronto I think to some extent that depends on what would be offered. One of the big rumours about why there's been tension in Detroit is the extent to which Babcock wants control over personnel. The Leafs could give that to him. They don't really have a GM. They could make the offer of "Come here, coach the team for a couple years, get the system you want in place and hopefully through the draft get the big pieces you want in place and then move from behind the bench to the front office whenever you want and choose your successor" then, I mean, that's a heck of a thing and it's not something he'll be offered most other places.
I'm still with you. I don't think it will happen. I don't know if Shanahan wants to offer that. I don't know Babcock would want that but...I really think there's more to that then just, you know, taking over a Sharks team or a Jets team(I'm trying to think of what vacancies there might be) that's better situated talent wise.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Here is Kyle Dubas speaking just before the deadline at a huge analytics conference. It's a fascinating watch and might help some on here who are a little stand offish when it comes to embracing these metrics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ha1TKFMId0
[youtube]8ha1TKFMId0[/youtube]
Based on this, you better believe the next coach will be fully on board with the analytics approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ha1TKFMId0
[youtube]8ha1TKFMId0[/youtube]
Based on this, you better believe the next coach will be fully on board with the analytics approach.
Redleaf
Active member
Patrick said:
That was very interesting. After watching that, I think it's safe to say the Leafs will not be hiring an old school coach who isn't 'analytics friendly'. It was very telling to hear him talk about how his system needs to run all the way down to the coach and players for it to work properly.
Does anyone know if Babcock incorporates analytics into his coaching style? If he doesn't, I think it would be asking alot from him to alter the way he coaches to fit these new ideas into his job. That could easily be a factor in why he wouldn't consider joining the Leafs. If he already does, well then that would make me believe the Leafs have already targeted him for the position.
Highlander
Active member
Forget Keenen, I mean take that device from Men in Black, take a Selfie and woosh he is gone.
