Maple Leafs Fire Mike Babcock

[Josh]

The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired Mike Babcock.

https://www.tsn.ca/toronto-maple-leafs-fire-mike-babcock-1.1400977

[Josh]

Sheldon Keefe, who was head coach of Toronto's AHL Marlies (currently first in their division), is the new head coach.

[Josh]

In my opinion, this is the right move, and will turn things around for the Leafs.

[matchesmalone]

I was surprised it happened this early.

With Babcock on the market, who else needs a new coach soon? Tampa? Nashville? San Jose?

[Matt the Aussie]

San Jose was immediately where my mind went too.

[Josh]

New Jersey maybe..?

[matchesmalone]

You think New Jersey is talented enough that a better coach could get them where they want to be? I suppose it would be worth a shot to try to turn things around on a short time scale to have a chance at signing Hall.

I'm not sure San Jose needs a coaching change. That's a team with a lot of holes. And they seem to be starting to get going. But I guess like Jersey, they need to turn things around short term to protect that first round pick.

We know what's happening in Tampa. Since Stamkos' comments that they need to start playing the right way, I feel like the team has buckled down and has actually been trying to learn to play a defensive system - they are just very bad at it. Probably not the best fit for Babcock, as it is the same problem Toronto has been struggling through.

They need a more defensive-minded coach. Off the top of my head I can't really think of anyone like that available right now except Guy Boucher, and how often does a team bring back an old coach? Especially under basically the same management regime (Brisebois was Yzerman's assistant).

Laviolette makes the most sense to me. They had the worst powerplay in the league last year despite all that talent (including Subban). I had them pegged for a long playoff run, and they went out first round. This year year so far they are badly underperforming. You could argue there is a hole in the defense with Fabbro filling Subban's spot, and goaltending could be a real issue. Not sure how much Rinne has left, and I'm not sold on Saros as a quality NHL starter. But they should be so much better than they are.

[Kephryn]

I think babs will go to Seattle.

Also I don't think getting rid of babs will solve anything. Sure it might make the team play a bit better in the short term. But the Toronto Maple Leafs have many issues.

• They don't know how to play Defence. Their D men can't play D. Their forwards can't play defensively and they lost pretty much all the grit they had.
• They still wont go far in the playoffs.
• They don't have a backup goalie to take some stress off Andersen. Let alone take the helm if he gets injured.
• They have 4 players taking up half their cap. Anyone of them gone is 1/8th of their salary out.

I feel this is reactionary and does not solve core issues. Sure the coach has a lot of experience with the kids and will change the style of play. Sure it might help save the season but it doesn't make them cup contenders.

I don't like the move.

[Matt the Aussie]

Babcock to Seattle actually makes good sense, he's not hurting for money short term and probably gets a bit of say in helping pick the squad.

It was clear that he was the wrong style of coach for what the Leafs have put together.

[Josh]

I think babs will go to Seattle.

Also I don't think getting rid of babs will solve anything. Sure it might make the team play a bit better in the short term. But the Toronto Maple Leafs have many issues.

• They don't know how to play Defence. Their D men can't play D. Their forwards can't play defensively and they lost pretty much all the grit they had.
• They still wont go far in the playoffs.
• They don't have a backup goalie to take some stress off Andersen. Let alone take the helm if he gets injured.
• They have 4 players taking up half their cap. Anyone of them gone is 1/8th of their salary out.

I feel this is reactionary and does not solve core issues. Sure the coach has a lot of experience with the kids and will change the style of play. Sure it might help save the season but it doesn't make them cup contenders.

I don't like the move.

Oohhh, yeah, Seattle is a great bet.

I don’t see the change as reactionary. Keefe was always Dubas’ guy. They worked great together in the AHL, and I believe they will in the NHL, too.

[Kephryn]

Oohhh, yeah, Seattle is a great bet.

I don’t see the change as reactionary. Keefe was always Dubas’ guy. They worked great together in the AHL, and I believe they will in the NHL, too.

I mean firing mid season like this. If he was your guy do it in the off season. Either last or the end of this season.

[matchesmalone]

Dubas was talking about how they want to exert their will on other teams with their skill. Apparently they've been better since the coaching change? This situation reminds me of RJ Umberger's comments on Washington back in 2010.

"I don't think any team in the West would be overmatched by them," Umberger told the Dispatch. "They play the wrong way. They want to be moving all the time. They float around in their zone, looking for breakaways and odd-man rushes.

"A good defensive team is going to beat them (in the playoffs). If you eliminate your turnovers and keep them off the power play, they're going to get frustrated because they're in their zone a lot."

We'll see if they prove me wrong. Interesting to recall that Shanahan was the missing piece Detroit added after years of regular season success and playoff chokes, added that element of grit and toughness to the top lines. I wonder if he's made a suggestion to Dubas...