Pretty hard to disagree with much of this.

I'd say he's still an above average coach, but not much else.

Oddly enough, people with this opinion a few years ago were lambasted.
- golfingsince

He's a good coach. But he's grossly overrated. A fax machine could probably coach Team Canada to a gold medal.

He's a good coach. But he's grossly overrated. A fax machine could probably coach Team Canada to a gold medal.
- eichiefs9

hahaha

they can poop on Babcock all they want, but I think a lot of blame should also be thrown at Dubas. He made a lot of mistakes too:

- he signed Marleau to a big deal without the foresight to realize that it went beyond when all their big young names would be due extensions. they're going to be in cap hell because they're paying huge money to a 40 year old 3rd liner.

- signing Tavares was great, but he gave huge money to a center (which was already an area of strength for the team) while he let some other really good players walk away for nothing....and he failed to address the teams actual needs

- he waived 2 solid backup goalies and kept Sparks.....who almost singlehandedly cost the leafs atleast 10 points in the standings (if not more)

- even with the addition of Muzzin, there was a severe lack of depth on the blueline that he failed to address


he gets all this praise in Toronto for being such a great young GM, but in reality what has he done that was so great, other than sign Tavares (which a half-trained monkey with a pen could have done.

granted he's still early in his career, but in terms of how they're portrayed, I think Dubas is more of a "fraud" than Babcock is.
- sensarmy_11

Can they both be frauds?

Absolutely. But he was also responsible for largely shutting down the Bergeron, Pasta, Rat line for most of the series.

Personally, I thought the Tavares signing was unnecessary. Matthews/Kadri is a good 1/2 punch. It never addressed the hole they have on D.

Nylander nees to good. Talented but absolutely no heart. Maybe we can trade him to the Sabres for #7?
- BernardShakey

Leddy for Nylander?

Leddy for Nylander?
- Vukota

Probably a bad time to suggest it now, but Leddy for Kadri should be on the table as well.

Probably a bad time to suggest it now, but Leddy for Kadri should be on the table as well.
- eichiefs9

First Mr Wilson you should realize that almost all of your spread sheet, corsi % b.s. has taken a major hit with the results of playoff hockey games. Almost all of the teams moving on are more physical, more defensive teams. Your talk of what a 4th line should look like is a joke. All the grit hard working players that you mock as not worthy of roster spots are proving their worth. So coaching and putting together a winning team certainly isn't in your future. All your analytic darling teams gone. Islander 4th line with Martin etc dominate your pens, Bruin 4th line with Accari, Kuraly win the series against the leafs. San Jose 4th liner who led the league in fighting majors wins the series in OT. Columbus moves on with big physical team , Washington with your boy Wilson will win. St Louis physical, Dallas top 3 in goals against. Are you starting to get it . You do need grit and physical defensive play to win. Even the guys you mock in this article, Komarov and Polak are important pieces of teams that are moving on in the playoffs. Polack averaged 19 + minutes and Komarov was essential in holding Malkin in check. But your crying for guys with some dumb corsi number. You want only no grit supposed skill euros. How is that working out in the playoffs. So please if your going to mock people at least have the dignity to admit your many, many mistakes. As far as Babcock goes I don't believe he is half as bad as you make him out to be. First off Jake Gardiner wouldn't have even been playing because of his back if superboy Dubby traded for a dman, never mind playing him more and Anderson did not come up big in game 7. I agree he should have played Matthews more in game 7 but you go way overboard calling him a terrible coach. But that's what you do mock and read analytics which of course makes you a hockey genius.
- johnnypie

Well hard to come up big, when is the goalie for the Sens...

Don’t you hate when your finger breaks through the TP and you get dookie in your finger nails?
- j.boyd919

So it's settled.....the Leafs should extend Babcock! Perfect

Mike Noocock!!!

Babcock will be pointing the finger at Dubas soon enough. Shortly before he left Detroit, Babcock said of Holland "I get one vote he gets 2."

they can poop on Babcock all they want, but I think a lot of blame should also be thrown at Dubas. He made a lot of mistakes too:

- he signed Marleau to a big deal without the foresight to realize that it went beyond when all their big young names would be due extensions. they're going to be in cap hell because they're paying huge money to a 40 year old 3rd liner.

- signing Tavares was great, but he gave huge money to a center (which was already an area of strength for the team) while he let some other really good players walk away for nothing....and he failed to address the teams actual needs

- he waived 2 solid backup goalies and kept Sparks.....who almost singlehandedly cost the leafs atleast 10 points in the standings (if not more)

- even with the addition of Muzzin, there was a severe lack of depth on the blueline that he failed to address


he gets all this praise in Toronto for being such a great young GM, but in reality what has he done that was so great, other than sign Tavares (which a half-trained monkey with a pen could have done.

granted he's still early in his career, but in terms of how they're portrayed, I think Dubas is more of a "fraud" than Babcock is.
- sensarmy_11

1) He did not sign Marleau. That was on Lou's watch, as was the Zaitsev extension.

2) The centre depth, without JT, was going to be Matthews, Kadri, ____. Babcock had already decided to not play Nylander there, so the Leafs were in talks with Derek Ryan. Signing JT to the deal that he did is something that would be done by anyone with a brain, 8 days a week.

3) The Sparks decision did not work out, though the reasoning (keep the young guy who just won AHL goalie of the Year) was solid. Pickard also didn't work out for anyone, so that's not an issue. Mac has obviously been great for the Canes, but normally guys don't get that good consistently at his age after a replacement level career.

4) The blueline definitely has holes, but unless we know of the guys that he inquired about, and the proposed cost of those moves, it's tough to evaluate. We sure can't say that he failed to address them if we don't know the cost of said upgrades. What he did do here was at least not make a panic move and overpay for somebody - especially as there's a couple of good guys in the pipeline, just waiting for a little more seasoning...

Absolutely. But he was also responsible for largely shutting down the Bergeron, Pasta, Rat line for most of the series.

Personally, I thought the Tavares signing was unnecessary. Matthews/Kadri is a good 1/2 punch. It never addressed the hole they have on D.

Nylander nees to good. Talented but absolutely no heart. Maybe we can trade him to the Sabres for #7?
- BernardShakey

No chance we trade that pick, especially for another soft forward. We have enough of those already.

Well hard to come up big, when is the goalie for the Sens...
- Xizord

Wow thought this was a place to discuss hockey . Poster Boyd tells me to use the return key my spacing is terrible, called out for making a mistake spelling Andersen.
Sorry, guess I failed the english quiz. Now about Mr Wilson and his total lack of hockey knowledge......

Who is this Penguins blogger? Has he ever played the game? Does he usually just echo the thoughts of noted plug Mike Commodore? Mike Commodore is still sore Babcock over past treatment in Anaheim and Detroit. Commodore even got salty 3-4 years ago on twitter. Comparing Babcock to Hitler of all people. He later said he had been hacked, then he said he didn't
Lay off the booze, Mike Commodore.
It is easy to take shots right now. The fact is the Maple Leafs do have some great talent on their roster, but they are still finding their way. Only Rielly, Muzzin, Zaitsev and Hainsey are trusted D. Gardiner was hurt, Dermott still young. Everyone else available on D are AHL caliber

Are you going to blame Babcock for Nylander floating around all year? Kadri's suspension? Marleau being done? Freddie the Goat being terrible? Connor Brown having a bad year? 12M man Marner doing nothing in the last four games of the series?

They were beat last night by the Bruins 3rd and 4th lines. Two bad turnovers and a weak goal against.

Firing the coach is something a lousy franchise like Buffalo or Edmonton would do. Who would they get to replace him? Who would be better.

Babcock's perceive lack of success? He took over an aging Detroit team and a lousy Maple Leafs team.

The Maple Leafs will be back. Some teams win right away, others (Wash), it takes time
- BernardShakey

He's a washed-up bitter ex-player who never lived up to expectations because his coach played older guys instead of him. And he REALLY hates 4th line guys who MADE it to the NHL, but just barely.

First Mr Wilson you should realize that almost all of your spread sheet, corsi % b.s. has taken a major hit with the results of playoff hockey games. Almost all of the teams moving on are more physical, more defensive teams. Your talk of what a 4th line should look like is a joke. All the grit hard working players that you mock as not worthy of roster spots are proving their worth. So coaching and putting together a winning team certainly isn't in your future. All your analytic darling teams gone. Islander 4th line with Martin etc dominate your pens, Bruin 4th line with Accari, Kuraly win the series against the leafs. San Jose 4th liner who led the league in fighting majors wins the series in OT. Columbus moves on with big physical team , Washington with your boy Wilson will win. St Louis physical, Dallas top 3 in goals against. Are you starting to get it . You do need grit and physical defensive play to win. Even the guys you mock in this article, Komarov and Polak are important pieces of teams that are moving on in the playoffs. Polack averaged 19 + minutes and Komarov was essential in holding Malkin in check. But your crying for guys with some dumb corsi number. You want only no grit supposed skill euros. How is that working out in the playoffs. So please if your going to mock people at least have the dignity to admit your many, many mistakes. As far as Babcock goes I don't believe he is half as bad as you make him out to be. First off Jake Gardiner wouldn't have even been playing because of his back if superboy Dubby traded for a dman, never mind playing him more and Anderson did not come up big in game 7. I agree he should have played Matthews more in game 7 but you go way overboard calling him a terrible coach. But that's what you do mock and read analytics which of course makes you a hockey genius.
- johnnypie

Problem with the Pens was they didn't know WHAT they wanted to be.

I was informed this was a good blog. I think the writer forgot to watch the game but was still tasked with writing it.

There are a few correct things like Det was a great team. Also an experience team in their prime. Toronto got a few years before there core is in their prime. (no matter what stats people claim is prime years)

As for the game and not loading up. Quick check 9 shifts for star players 3 for 4th liners in the 3rd. Seems as if the bench shortened.

Babcock like just about every coach likes rights and lefts for D. You have 5 lefties and 1 righty.

Leafs fans gotta blame/cry about something I guess it’s babcocks turn 😂

It's the Brian Burke scenario all over again. Take a guy with an already massive ego, give him a truckload of money, and have a million fans and media anoint him saviour and messiah.

Then, when he turns out to be merely mortal, rabidly turn on him and run him out of town.

Welcome to the hockey world in Toronto.

It's the Brian Burke scenario all over again. Take a guy with an already massive ego, give him a truckload of money, and have a million fans and media anoint him saviour and messiah.

Then, when he turns out to be merely mortal, rabidly turn on him and run him out of town.

Welcome to the hockey world in Toronto.
- SmileandWave

Holland > Dubas

I won't chime in on the current situation, but I was impressed when Babcock was able to take the 2013 series against the Hawks to 7 games. He also won a 7 game series against Anaheim just before that. And that team was a 7th seed.

The Toronto media is the reason why the Leafs can't win..Leafs were the lower ranked team in this series and I thought before the series they were going to get run over by the Bruins..Yet hear in Toronto you would think the leafs were playing a junior team and were expected to sweep the Bruins.

Yes you can point out what the coach did or didn't do or what players sucked but that is the same talk that comes out of every team that loses..Toronto media magnifies it by 100 times and riles up the fans.

So let's see:
The Leafs lose a series in 7 games to a team with 107 points and second overall in the league.
Most "experts" had the Leafs losing the series.
Their goalie choked in game 7 again, with even league average goaltending they would have won.
So for this some guy with no credentials except a platform on a blog labels Babcock a fraud.
Who is really the fraud here?
- Rang

Mike is just like Bob Nicholson in Edmonton. You shine when you can pick the best of the best for team Canada but suck happily ever after when you have to start from scratch. Also MIKe didn’t have to start from scratch.

1) He did not sign Marleau. That was on Lou's watch, as was the Zaitsev extension.

2) The centre depth, without JT, was going to be Matthews, Kadri, ____. Babcock had already decided to not play Nylander there, so the Leafs were in talks with Derek Ryan. Signing JT to the deal that he did is something that would be done by anyone with a brain, 8 days a week.

3) The Sparks decision did not work out, though the reasoning (keep the young guy who just won AHL goalie of the Year) was solid. Pickard also didn't work out for anyone, so that's not an issue. Mac has obviously been great for the Canes, but normally guys don't get that good consistently at his age after a replacement level career.

4) The blueline definitely has holes, but unless we know of the guys that he inquired about, and the proposed cost of those moves, it's tough to evaluate. We sure can't say that he failed to address them if we don't know the cost of said upgrades. What he did do here was at least not make a panic move and overpay for somebody - especially as there's a couple of good guys in the pipeline, just waiting for a little more seasoning...
- lumlums

Jesus. This reads like a dissertation on an ex-girlfriend after a bad breakup. Sorry you never got that Babcock interview you wanted, or whatever he did to leave you feeling so jilted.