Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Mike Babcock's Future

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TORONTO, ON – APRIL 02: Mike Babcock head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs comes out of the dressing room to play the Carolina Hurricanes at the Scotiabank Arena on April 2, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a number of important decisions to make over the summer.

Perhaps the most important one pertains to their head coach, Mike Babcock. During yet another disappointing Game Seven loss at the hands of the Boston Bruins, Babcock’s out-dated coaching methods were exposed for all to see once again. The highest paid bench boss in hockey has not only failed to push Toronto over the first-round hump, he’s continually shown practically no intent to adjust his ideology when needed, and it’s bitten him two years in a row.

With the uncertainty surrounding Babcock coming to a head in recent days, the EIL staff put their heads together to answer the question:

If you were Kyle Dubas, what would you do with Mike Babcock moving forward?

The answers may shock you. Or not. We’ve never met.

Personally, I think it’s time for Babcock to go. He was the perfect stabilizing force to lead the Maple Leafs through their top-to-bottom rebuild in 2015. But as the team has gradually gotten better and entered into the contention window, Babcock has continually mishandled the lineup and rubbed players the wrong way when it comes to ice time and, even, public comments.

Not to mention, at the Maple Leafs year-end media conference, Babcock took zero responsibility for the team’s failure. For a coach who preaches accountability at every chance he gets, that is simply unacceptable.

Practice what you preach, as the saying goes. Babcock doesn’t seem to get that.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins shakes hands with Head Coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on April 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Josh Tessler

If I were Kyle Dubas, I would retain Mike Babcock. At first, I was leaning towards jumping on the “Fire Babcock” train, but I’ve thought more about this.

If Dubas were to fire Babcock, he would likely cause some turmoil within the Toronto Maple Leafs front office. Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock have a strong relationship. Shanahan might not be so thrilled about his young general manager kicking his buddy to the curb. Instead, I would give Babcock another chance to prove himself. But, that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t make any changes to the coaching staff.

Over the course of the season, I haven’t been thrilled with DJ Smith. Smith has been the Leafs number two coach and hasn’t done quite well in managing the Leafs defence and special teams play. It’s time for a new voice behind the bench.

So, If I were Dubas, I would let Smith go and look for a replacement.

Knowing Dubas’ love for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, my guess is that he’d look to replace Smith with Drew Bannister. Bannister was the Greyhounds head coach from 2015-2018. Currently, he’s the head coach of the San Antonio Rampage (AHL).

TORONTO, ON – APRIL 21: Mike Babcock head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs walks to the dressing room before playing the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on April 21, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Peri Gallacher

The Leafs have come to a crossroads at this point with head coach Mike Babcock after their Game 7 loss to the Bruins— a loss that I personally attribute to a lack of adaptive coaching on Babcock’s part.

The Toronto Maple Leafs that Mike Babcock showed up to in 2015, are not the Leafs that he is coaching now. The amount of depth and ability within younger and newer players is more than enough to build plays that earn the W. But Babcock is a man of his own, who is set in his ways of relying on older players to get the job done. In the case of a playoff elimination game, only playing arguably one of the best players in the league right now [Auston Matthews] 18 or so minutes while AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies are double shifting rookie players like Rasmus Sandin.

The 2018-2019 season was certainly unpredictable, especially in the sense of coaches being fired left, right, and centre— for way less than an elimination style game. So it shocks me that Mike Babcock, nearly a week out from the loss, is still fully employed with the Leafs organization.

Kyle Dubas is in a position to rework the young team with possibly a younger coach who is more apt to recognize the skill and potential in the bulk of the players on the team.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 23: Head Coach Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs exits the ice after the Maple Leafs lost 5-1 to the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Nick Barden

Kyle Dubas is in an interesting situation.

On one side, he is one of the most decorated coaches in NHL history. But, on the other side, he is one of the most stubborn coaches in the NHL. It’s not about what Kyle Dubas should do ‘with’ Babcock, but what should he give him.

I don’t see Babcock going anywhere this summer and if he does get the axe, it’ll be interesting to see who replaces him. But, it’s more than likely he stays and with that, I think it’s time to see an assistant coaching change.

DJ Smith and Jim Hiller have had their fair share of chances to help this team get to the success needed to win a cup, but with how poorly the special teams have been this season, we could potentially see Smith out this summer.

Smith has been rumoured to be in contact with the Ottawa Senators for a potential head coaching job, and it’s even been rumoured he could fit in Buffalo as well. For Hiller and the Leafs sake, I feel like it’d be a good time to part ways with him as well. If you get rid of one, or two of the assistant coaches, you could make room for the possibility of bringing Sheldon Keefe up for an assistant role, as many teams are looking at him to be an NHL head coach soon.

But for me, this is the last straw for Babcock. If he does well next season, he’ll be back. If not, the Leafs might look for the answers from someone else.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 23: Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock grimaces on the bench during Game 7 of the 2019 First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 23, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

James Tanner

The Toronto Maple Leafs might make a coaching change. Kyle Dubas has shown himself to be a bold, proactive manager.

It is reasonable to think that a General Manager would want his own hand-picked coach to execute his vision, and there are all sorts of things you can complain about that Mike Babcock does (the breakouts and stretch passes, for example, and the fact that the Leafs tend to allow a lot of shots against).

The Leafs basically print money, and Babcock is a sunk cost. They also have a coach in waiting that they will almost certainly lose with six or seven vacancies across the NHL. There is also the fact that messages get stale, and Babcock is a message guy. The more I think about it, the more reasons I can find to make a change.

That’s balanced against the reputation of 100 point seasons, and the good things that Babcock does. Plus he’s got another four years on his contract. Basically, like the Bruins series, you can just flip a coin here.

My guess is that they do make a change. Should they though? That’s tougher.

If Kadri doesn’t get suspended, the Leafs advance and Babcock’s job is safe. Does a flukey loss mean you should switch coaches? Is it reactionary or are there solid reasons for doing so? Hard to say. Mike Babcock, has charisma, and an authority that would be hard to match.

I think the best thing for the Leafs would be to retain the good things about Babcock by keeping him, but get the strategic element of the game improved by bringing in assistant coaches that will game plan and strategize in a way more consistent with the general manager’s vision.

If Babcock is open to learning, adaption and change, I think you have to keep him.

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