Toronto Maple Leafs: Next Destination for Mike Babcock

Will Mike Babcock remain the Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs next season?

More than likely, yes. Mike Babcock will be the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs next season. However, if Kyle Dubas decides to fire him, he could be off to a new gig soon after. In the big picture for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it would be good. A new season with a new head coach would bring some change.

If Babcock does get fired, the new coach could come from inside or outside of the organization. Many have said, “If they wanted to fire Babcock, why haven’t they fired him yet?” The only coach that fits the role inside of the organization is Sheldon Keefe, who is the head coach of the Toronto Marlies.

Obviously, you don’t want to put the spotlight on him when the Marlies are in the Calder Cup playoffs; too much spotlight may not be good. If Dubas really wanted to name Keefe the next head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s very likely that it’ll come after.

Where Could Mike Babcock Go if he Gets the Axe?

Any team in the NHL would be lining up at his door wanting him to be the coach of their team. Babcock would get the contract he wants and he’d get to go wherever he wants to. But, there’s one place in particular that he could go if he does get fired.

That team is the Edmonton Oilers.

Why wouldn’t Babcock want to go there? With the likelihood of Ken Holland, who’s spent the last 22 years as the GM of the Detroit Red Wings, getting the GM job of the Oilers, it could be time for a new start with some familiar faces.

But, it’s not just Holland who’d be the only familiar face in the Oilers organization. Another familiar face is Bob Nicholson, who is currently their CEO. Nicholson was also the President and CEO of Hockey Canada from 1998-2014, where Babcock was the head coach of Team Canada (World Juniors, World Championships, 2010 and 2014 Olympics).

He coached every team to a Gold Medal.

One of the biggest interests for Babcock would be getting to coach the best hockey player on Earth, Connor McDavid. There’s not one reason for Babcock to say he doesn’t want to coach McDavid. As hockey fans all over think it’s funny that Ken Holland, who hasn’t traded for a significant NHL player in years, could be the next GM of the Oilers.

Babcock could be the reason that McDavid does not ask for a trade in the coming years.

Since 2015, Holland has traded for eight players, and after trading for them, all eight players played a total of 81 games with the Detroit Red Wings. While it’s obviously up for debate as to whether or not he should be the next GM of the Edmonton Oilers, this is a Leafs website where we talk about the Leafs.

Could Dubas Get Something in Return for Mike Babcock?

This would obviously be a big move for Babcock, kind of. He’s got a home in Saskatchewan and Edmonton is only a five-hour drive, so it’s not too far.

But, the Leafs can still get something if he gets fired and goes to coach the Oilers.

The Leafs would have to release him and trade his rights to the Oilers. We’ve seen it before when Babcock came to Toronto. His rights were traded from the Red Wings to the Leafs for the draft pick rights to Lane Zablocki, who was a prospect at the time.

It would obviously be better to get something, rather than nothing. If Babcock does end up leaving the Leafs this offseason, there’ll be lots of discussion on who’ll come in to replace him. However, there will be an even bigger discussion of where Babcock will be coaching next.

Thanks for reading!