Is Mike Babcock a good hockey coach? Yes he is. Is Mike Babcock a great hockey coach? The numbers do not support that label.
Did he win a Stanley Cup? Yes in 2008, with a roster full of future hall of fame players. A year later he also lost in the finals with virtually the same roster.
Going further back, Babcock took the Ducks to the Stanley Cup finals once on the back of JS Giguere. Losing in seven games to New Jersey, and getting shut out in three of those seven games. Noteworthy for those teams still looking for a Head Coach, Dan Bylsma was on that Ducks team and probably knows a thing or two about Babcock’s coaching.
Interesting who built that Ducks team too. GM Bryan Murray, who happens to be the Uncle of Buffalo GM Tim Murray, who just happened to be the one who hired Babcock for the Ducks. The same Tim Murray who declined to match Toronto’s offer for Babcock.
The Detroit Red Wings avoided a big mistake in keeping Mike Babcock. They could have over paid like Toronto, but the CHOSE not to. They CHOSE not to over pay. Nothing is more important than Detroit making that choice, and it was the right one.
The Buffalo Sabres also avoided the big mistake, and in the end will thank Toronto for over paying.
Why? The answers are simple, if you have an analytical mind, and if you actually scout hockey.
Detroit has a core of aging veteran players who can still compete at a very high level. Not the elite level they once could, but a very high level. They also have a very nice group of young players waiting in Grand Rapids.
Detroit also has one of the best future NHL coaches in Grand Rapids in Jeff Blashill. They no longer needed Mike Babcock, and Babcock knew it.
Detroit will likely move Blashill up, and he will lead them for a long time. A fresh face, and a great communicator that already knows every prospect in the system.
Buffalo wanted Babcock for two reasons. First it was a big name that would attract some veteran free agents, and potentially get some players to waive no movement clauses in trade negotiations, that would accelerate the rebuild process. Second, he’s a good coach for the right mix of youth and veteran players.
That’s it. Not because he is a great coach or savior of a franchise, but because he fit a profile Buffalo identified.
Are hockey people shocked with Babcock’s decision? Yes, some are. But its not because of the money involved, its simply because good hockey people know…
Toronto has nothing over what the Red Wings or Sabres could offer from a talent perspective. Nothing.
If you thought Babcock was great, and he was the cure for the multiple ailments in Toronto, then you need to think about this……
Detroit has a far better team now, and far better prospect pool than Toronto, and yet they didn’t get out of the first round of the playoffs. If you think that’s not the case then you are clearly drinking blue koolaide.
Toronto does not have the mix of veterans and prospects that Detroit has. They are the most dysfunctional franchise in the NHL.
Toronto does not even have enough assets to trade to reload the prospect pool. Trading Kessel and Phaneuf will not bring enough assets to turn Toronto around. If they are kept, Babcock will make them both a bit better, the “pain” talked about in his press conference is going to be chronic and long term.
Kyle Dubas is a great young assistant GM now. He is probably scrambling to find a way to make something happen. Even he cant fix this mess, and I think he is a great young executive.
Mike Babcock made his decision on nothing more than money. Saying he wanted to coach “Canada’s Team” didn’t even come across as being genuine.
If he wanted to win in the immediate future, Detroit was his best option. They didn’t want him back for more money than he is worth.
If he wanted to win long term, Buffalo has the best group of young talent and draft picks to build to the future in the NHL. Buffalo wouldn’t go to the financial lengths that Toronto would, and it was the right choice.
Babcock has not developed talent, he coached talent that was given to him. His Major Junior record is only average. It wont get any easier for Toronto now that the NHL Draft rules regarding the top three picks have changed. Tanking for a season gets you no draft advantage.
The Red Wings and Sabres are both better off without Babcock. Babcock is not a guy who buys the groceries, he is a guy that cooks what groceries are delivered. In the salary cap era, the free agent spending is limited, and building a franchise happens through the draft.
Unfortunately, Toronto fans and Babcock are about to find out the groceries that just got delivered are a case of Raman Noodles and a diet Coke. Who ever ends up in Detroit and Buffalo will be getting a five course meal.
Joseph Kolodziej – Publisher
