Leafs search for a new coach/GM

[skrackle]

I wonder where Montreal would be if they had failed just a little more consistent.  One extra fail season, one more impact player.  When I look at Babcock, I'm more worried about success then failure.  I want the team to fail badly.  No short-cuts.  Build from the ground up a team that wins the Cup.  Take a decade even, what is one more?  Leafs might not get an impact player if Babcock turns the team around.

I know what you mean and I've been thinking two ways about it.

The Leafs need to stink it up for, I don't know, at least two more seasons. Would Babcock make them improve enough to sink a rebuild before enough high end talent has been acquired? Or would Babcock be perfectly aware of the full process and be ok with losing during the crucial early period?

I expect it would be the latter. In Toronto, Babcock would likely have more input into the future roster than any other coach in the league, in addition to the record-breaking salary.

That said, I expect him to stay in Detroit.

 

[Highlander]

I dont think that Shanahan has a tank in mind, the coach they chose will either be a developer of the young players kind of coach (like Eakins) if they don't get Babs.
In any case he will want them to play hard, no quit hockey, you know not the kind we watched quite a bit of just recently.

 

[skrackle]

I dont think that Shanahan has a tank in mind, the coach they chose will either be a developer of the young players kind of coach (like Eakins) if they don't get Babs.
In any case he will want them to play hard, no quit hockey, you know not the kind we watched quite a bit of just recently.

I agree with you on that point. Getting the team playing with passion and setting up a system and style of play that will lead to winning has got to be the biggest job for whoever ends up coaching. I'm sure that's what Shanahan will want to see, but I don't think the Leafs will have a roster capable of winning for some time.

But you never know. I'm not getting into the predictions game with so many unknown factors in the mix with the Leafs right now.

 

[bustaheims]

I dont think that Shanahan has a tank in mind,

And, yet, the talk is also that he wants to trade away most of the more talented pieces on the roster for future pieces - which is, you know, something you do when you're tanking. No one says tanking means laying down and not playing your best out there. It's just icing a team that's not going to talented enough to win a lot of games.

 

[Chev-boyar-sky]

I dont think that Shanahan has a tank in mind,

And, yet, the talk is also that he wants to trade away most of the more talented pieces on the roster for future pieces - which is, you know, something you do when you're tanking. No one says tanking means laying down and not playing your best out there. It's just icing a team that's not going to talented enough to win a lot of games.

God I hope this happens..

 

[Al14]

I don't think Babcock could turn this team around. The biggest problem is a lack of talent on the team.

IMHO, it's not the lack of talent as much as it's the lack of work ethics that haunts this team.

 

[Highlander]

At this point, if Babcock is not available I wouldnt mind seeing Eakins or Blashill take over, good with young player development and Eakins especially on work ethic.

 

[Al14]

At this point, if Babcock is not available I wouldnt mind seeing Eakins or Blashill take over, good with young player development and Eakins especially on work ethic.

Eakins was a huge fail in Edmonton, I really don't see him being any better in Toronto!

 

[Zee]

At this point, if Babcock is not available I wouldnt mind seeing Eakins or Blashill take over, good with young player development and Eakins especially on work ethic.

Eakins was a huge fail in Edmonton, I really don't see him being any better in Toronto!

Ron Wilson is looking for work and he has fond memories of his time in Toronto.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Quick question, does the compensation rule apply to AHL staff too?

Was wondering if they'd need to pony up for a guy like Blashill.

 

[Al14]

At this point, if Babcock is not available I wouldnt mind seeing Eakins or Blashill take over, good with young player development and Eakins especially on work ethic.

Eakins was a huge fail in Edmonton, I really don't see him being any better in Toronto!

Ron Wilson is looking for work and he has fond memories of his time in Toronto.

I wouldn't let Ron Wilson clean the toilets at the ACC never mind allowing him back behind the bench!  LOL

 

[bustaheims]

Quick question, does the compensation rule apply to AHL staff too?

Was wondering if they'd need to pony up for a guy like Blashill.

I believe so, yes.

 

[Peter D.]

Yesterday McLellan was talking on the radio about his new job in Edmonton.  The news of Babcock being in contract discussions with the Sabres also came out.  McLellan did suggest the Oilers winning the McDavid lottery was a significant factor in his decision.  It is also believed that Eichel would be the main enticement for Babcock in taking the Sabres' job.

Furthermore, it's often been discussed that both teams are further along in their rebuilds than that Leafs.  The Oilers with some pretty talented youngsters, and the Sabres with some depth in that category.  We all know where the Leafs stand in comparison (not to mention the media scrutiny and the headaches that come with taking the job).

So it got me thinking -- if the Leafs were to have won the McDavid lottery, or hypothetically finished bad enough to earn the Eichel "consolation" prize, would that alone have been enough to entice someone to take the Leafs' job (along with a blank cheque)? 

 

[Kin]

I question the idea that Buffalo is all that further along than Toronto is in the rebuilding process. They have some really good pieces, yes, but those pieces are matched with an almost complete lack of talent on the roster. Think about it. The Leafs, after that tragically awful season, finished 14 points ahead of the Sabres with a lot of people thinking that gap was only as small as it was because of things besides the respective talents on both clubs.

Eichel, Girgensons, Reinhart, the young defensemen...those are good pieces, undeniably. But there's nothing on that roster. The Leafs will have Nylander, Rielly, whoever they take at #4 and they still get to strip the roster for parts. If the Leafs were to trade Phaneuf, Kessel, Kadri, JVR, Polak and Bernier for prospects and draft picks tomorrow, the extent to which Buffalo would look more rebuilt than the Leafs would vanish pretty quickly.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I question the idea that Buffalo is all that further along than Toronto is in the rebuilding process. They have some really good pieces, yes, but those pieces are matched with an almost complete lack of talent on the roster. Think about it. The Leafs, after that tragically awful season, finished 14 points ahead of the Sabres with a lot of people thinking that gap was only as small as it was because of things besides the respective talents on both clubs.

Eichel, Girgensons, Reinhart, the young defensemen...those are good pieces, undeniably. But there's nothing on that roster. The Leafs will have Nylander, Rielly, whoever they take at #4 and they still get to strip the roster for parts. If the Leafs were to trade Phaneuf, Kessel, Kadri, JVR, Polak and Bernier for prospects and draft picks tomorrow, the extent to which Buffalo would look more rebuilt than the Leafs would vanish pretty quickly.

There's also Evander Kane who didn't factor into last season for Buffalo.

 

[Peter D.]

I question the idea that Buffalo is all that further along than Toronto is in the rebuilding process. They have some really good pieces, yes, but those pieces are matched with an almost complete lack of talent on the roster. Think about it. The Leafs, after that tragically awful season, finished 14 points ahead of the Sabres with a lot of people thinking that gap was only as small as it was because of things besides the respective talents on both clubs.

Eichel, Girgensons, Reinhart, the young defensemen...those are good pieces, undeniably. But there's nothing on that roster. The Leafs will have Nylander, Rielly, whoever they take at #4 and they still get to strip the roster for parts. If the Leafs were to trade Phaneuf, Kessel, Kadri, JVR, Polak and Bernier for prospects and draft picks tomorrow, the extent to which Buffalo would look more rebuilt than the Leafs would vanish pretty quickly.

I completely agree.  I've often thought to myself what makes Buffalo so intriguing in comparison to Toronto.  I just don't see it.  I just ran with the notion because that's what is being perceived out there (which again, I wouldn't agree with) and that Babcock is much further along in the process with the Sabres than it seems he ever was with the Leafs.

 

[Kin]

There's also Evander Kane who didn't factor into last season for Buffalo.

True. Toronto also has some pieces I didn't mention like Gardiner though. "Nothing" was, admittedly, an exaggeration.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Eichel's really what separates Buffalo from Toronto I think. Especially when you consider the big pieces I think it's pretty close. Reinhart/Ristolainen is roughly on par with Nylander/Rielly (Buffalo might have the edge in the forward, but the Leafs have it on D). Girgensons and Kadri could be a draw. Bogosian=Gardiner. Kane=JVR. Buffalo has the edge in the depth of their prospects pool but the Leafs have the edge in terms of other NHL talent that could be shopped (Kessel, Phaneuf, Bernier).

 

[rdowdall]

Eichel's really what separates Buffalo from Toronto I think. Especially when you consider the big pieces I think it's pretty close. Reinhart/Ristolainen is roughly on par with Nylander/Rielly (Buffalo might have the edge in the forward, but the Leafs have it on D). Girgensons and Kadri could be a draw. Bogosian=Gardiner. Kane=JVR. Buffalo has the edge in the depth of their prospects pool but the Leafs have the edge in terms of other NHL talent that could be shopped (Kessel, Phaneuf, Bernier).

Buffalo doesn't have a goalie.  Like at all.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Buffalo doesn't have a goalie.  Like at all.

That's a fair point, and it's one that they'll have to address. But in this day and age finding a starting goalie is much easier than finding top level forwards or defencemen. Heck, this could just sign Antti Niemi this summer and call it a day.