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Mëds, at the time there were numerous stories about the mutual dislike between Babcock and BB. Both were strong, opinionated men. Babcock was a popular coach with a lot of players and was respected by ownership. It was BB call for sure. Most suspect he knew that his contract offer of one year was the best way to get rid of Babcock without having to justify getting rid of him. He had his guy in Carlye ready to go.

But I stand corrected. BB had nothing to do with Babcock leaving Anaheim.

Hockey Widow wrote:Mëds, at the time there were numerous stories about the mutual dislike between Babcock and BB. Both were strong, opinionated men. Babcock was a popular coach with a lot of players and was respected by ownership. It was BB call for sure. Most suspect he knew that his contract offer of one year was the best way to get rid of Babcock without having to justify getting rid of him. He had his guy in Carlye ready to go.

But I stand corrected. BB had nothing to do with Babcock leaving Anaheim.

And I don't really think he cares, as his guy Carlye won him a cup.

From the Babcock presser:

On why the leaves

The leaves are Canada's team in spite of what some may say. I want to be part of returning Canada's team to glory and have them take their rightful place once again

On expectations

I didn't come here to make the playoffs. I came to be part of a cup winning process.

Ok it's official. I hate Babcock and his smug centre of the universe mentality. Good thing he didn't join the leaves to make the playoffs.

Hockey Widow wrote:From the Babcock presser:

On why the leaves

The leaves are Canada's team in spite of what some may say. I want to be part of returning Canada's team to glory and have them take their rightful place once again

On expectations

I didn't come here to make the playoffs. I came to be part of a cup winning process.

Ok it's official. I hate Babcock and his smug centre of the universe mentality. Good thing he didn't join the leaves to make the playoffs.

More reason to hate that puke's guts. I'll never cheer for a team he coaches, no matter what kind of maple leaf is on their jersey. Smug fuck must die a horrible death. Is it wrong to offer Putin the GPS coordinates to the ACC for his Strategic Rocket Command's reference?

Mëds wrote:

herb wrote: Gotta give Shanahan credit. He landed the biggest free agent of the year, coach or player. The leaves now have one of the best coaches in the world. Lots of work to do, though.

What do you base this assessment on Herb?

It's not my assessment. Babcock is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the NHL, which is the best hockey league in the world; therefore, Babcock is one of the best coaches in the world.

Are there many others who are universally adored like Babcock is? Quenneville is for sure. Guys like Hitchcock, Trotz, Boudreau and Sutter are a step down, IMO.

FWIW, the free market has assessed that Babcock is perhaps the absolute best hockey coach as he is reportedly being paid much more than any other coach.

Mëds wrote:

herb wrote: Gotta give Shanahan credit. He landed the biggest free agent of the year, coach or player. The leaves now have one of the best coaches in the world. Lots of work to do, though.

What do you base this assessment on Herb?

Well, I'm not Herb, but Babcock is the only coach to have qualified, as coach, to the Triple Gold Club.

Now, of course a coach is dependent on the material he has to work with, but having won the three most prestigious championships there are in hockey, the Stanley Cup, the Olympic tournament and the World Championship, shows that he is good at what he does. It also proves that he can work with different teams under different conditions.

To win the Stanley Cup, you form and mold a team over a long period of time. It's played on a narrow rink and is physically gruelling, and in the playoffs the refs often let everything go.

In the Olympic tournament all the best players are available. The team is assembled one or two weeks before the puck drops, so there is little time to work on chemistry. With most players on the team being superstars, you have a lot of big egos to juggle, and you have to be able to convince them to think team first. Once you get to the quarter finals, it's single game eliminations, so you can't screw up, ever. If you lose one game, you're gone. And you only get a shot at it every four years.

And the toughest to win for a Canadian is probably the World Championship. It's played on big ice, with iihf rules, almost always in Europe. It coincides with the Stanley Cup playoffs, so many of the brst players aren't available, and many Canadians don't care much about this tournament, so they may choose to play golf instead. The team consists of players who didn't make it past the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and often see it more as a European vacation than a matter of life or death. Once again, there is single game elimination and no or little time to prepare the team, as the roster isn't even decided until just shortly before the tournament begins.

Also, the game you play on big ice differs from the one played on NHL rinks. Many players, and coaches have difficulties adapting when switching from one to the other.

Babcock has managed to lead his team to victory in all three formats, which to me confirms he is not just a good coach, but a great one. Probably one of the best there is.

Hockey Widow wrote:The leaves are Canada's team in spite of what some may say. I want to be part of returning Canada's team to glory and have them take their rightful place once again

I'd like to hear his in depth reasoning for that statement, and why Canada's team wouldn't be Montreal.

BurningBeard wrote:

Hockey Widow wrote:The leaves are Canada's team in spite of what some may say. I want to be part of returning Canada's team to glory and have them take their rightful place once again

I'd like to hear his in depth reasoning for that statement, and why Canada's team wouldn't be Montreal.

You mean something other than he evidently does have a BB size ego.

BurningBeard wrote:

Hockey Widow wrote:The leaves are Canada's team in spite of what some may say. I want to be part of returning Canada's team to glory and have them take their rightful place once again

I'd like to hear his in depth reasoning for that statement, and why Canada's team wouldn't be Montreal.

Welcome to the microscope Mike! You now have a job where your every word, and pause, will be dissected and analyzed, ad nauseum.

Let's remember that Babcock is from Ontario and well, they all think that everyone loves the leaves. After working in the US for the past 12 years...has he forgotten that there are other teams in Canada?

Zedlee wrote:

BurningBeard wrote:

Hockey Widow wrote:The leaves are Canada's team in spite of what some may say. I want to be part of returning Canada's team to glory and have them take their rightful place once again

I'd like to hear his in depth reasoning for that statement, and why Canada's team wouldn't be Montreal.

Welcome to the microscope Mike! You now have a job where your every word, and pause, will be dissected and analyzed, ad nauseum.

Let's remember that Babcock is from Ontario and well, they all think that everyone loves the leaves. After working in the US for the past 12 years...has he forgotten that there are other teams in Canada?

Uh, no. He is Regina Sask. proud. Speaks highly of his home province, has an off season vacation home there, gives back to local community with time every off season.

Hockey Widow wrote:

Zedlee wrote: Let's remember that Babcock is from Ontario and well, they all think that everyone loves the leaves. After working in the US for the past 12 years...has he forgotten that there are other teams in Canada?

duh, no. He is Regina Sask. proud. Speaks highly of his home province, has an off season vacation home there, gives back to local community with time every off season.

Saskatoon

From Wiki:
Although he was born in Manitouwadge, Ontario, he grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which is often incorrectly listed as his birthplace. He spent the majority of his childhood moving around between Northern Ontario, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, before his family settled in Saskatoon, which he considers his hometown. Babcock's family didn't establish their roots in the city until 1975. Babcock attended both St. James Elementary School (since closed) and Holy Cross High School on Saskatoon's east side. Babcock is also one of the many notable graduates on Holy Cross High School's "Wall of Honour."

And I believe his summer home is in Emma Lake.

It was easier to spell Regina thanks for the correction.

Mëds wrote:

Strangelove wrote:Babcock sold his soul for a few dollars more and 2 extra months of golf every year.

Hockey Gods gonna get him for that one…

You mean the Hockey God's are gonna put him in the playoffs so he can't hit the links?

I mean the Hockey Gods are gonna ruin his reputation

... and have the Hounds of Hogtown feast upon his charred remains.

Hounds of Hogtown = Toronto media.

And yeahno, the Hockey Gods aren't gonna let the Leaves into the playoffs anytime soon.

Lancer wrote:

Hockey Widow wrote:From the Babcock presser:

On why the leaves

The leaves are Canada's team in spite of what some may say. I want to be part of returning Canada's team to glory and have them take their rightful place once again

On expectations

I didn't come here to make the playoffs. I came to be part of a cup winning process.

Ok it's official. I hate Babcock and his smug centre of the universe mentality. Good thing he didn't join the leaves to make the playoffs.

More reason to hate that puke's guts.

This is why they call him.... The Cock.

He belongs at "the centre of the universe".

As one of the talking heads said today, he's just the latest in a long line of "Leaf saviors"

Cliff Fletcher, Pat Burns, Ken Dryden, Pat Quinn, Brian Burke, Brendan Shanahan....

LOL in the middle of the Conference Finals it's hard to find a TSN/SN article that isn't about The Cock.

It's like deja vu all over again!

Topper wrote:

Hockey Widow wrote: I wonder how BB feels. He was the guy that got rid of Babcock from Anaheim, only to watch him go on to a successful ten year run in Detroit. Today he has to watch him get that coveted centre of the universe position, for more money BB could every dream of making.

Are the leaves still paying Carlyle and Wilson?

Wilson, technically no.

(may be paying him under the table to keep his yap shut after his "Coach Killer" comments this season)

Dave Nonis was signed to a 5-year extension on Jul 25, 2013 (2 weeks after he signed Clakson).

Carlyle was signed to a two-year extension on May 8, 2014 (3 weeks after Leaves officially missed the playoffs).

Not sure how many of these guys are still being paid by the Leaves:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/h ... e23890280/

In all, more than 20 leaves staffers lost their jobs on Sunday

And not sure who they are going to replace all those stiffs with.

But surely throwing $50M at The Cock will right the ship!

I believe 2 of the fired assistant coaches were hired last July.

MLSE prez+CEO Tim Leiweke will be out the door in one month's time...