After years of speculation about what he would do once his contract was up, Mike Babcock is now the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. At first glance, it may seem like an odd move for Babcock considering the other possible destinations. Looking at what he has done with the Red Wings organization the past 10 years it seemed like he was already in a pretty good situation. He traded all of that to join a team that is in the beginning of what looks to be a couple year rebuilding process. While earning an NHL record $50 million dollars probably had something to do with it, this move was about more. He is looking to restore glory to one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. This is a team that was once the center of hockey, and is now going through a 50 year Stanley Cup drought.
So what should we expect out of Toronto this season? Well, you will probably not see an immediate return in the win column due to there being very little talent currently on the roster. However, you should see much more consistent play, which is something that plagued them all season. You can also assume that Babcock will begin building the team in his image, which means you will see many of the old faces move on as he brings in new guys. He does not have much talent in terms of prospects to work with, outside of William Nylander, but they are guaranteed one of Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner, or Noah Hanifin. These are all solid guys to begin a rebuilding process with, but if I had to predict what Babcock is thinking, I believe Marner fits his system best. Marner has a ridiculously high ceiling if he can find a way to translate his skills to the NHL. Having Babcock as his coach will certainly improve his chances. That being said, do not count out Hanifan who would be a huge asset for a group with no elite defensive prospects. All in all, expect them to start building around the core of Morgan Reilly, William Nylander, and their first round pick from this season. That will be a good start, but more help is definitely needed.
Let us compare this with what he is leaving behind in Detroit. Ken Holland has done a fantastic job as the Red Wings look to be in a pretty good spot right now. They have rebuilt on the fly and now have solid players up and down the organization. They have a couple of young guys in Gustav Nyquist, Anthony Mantha, and Tomas Jurco that will look to take over the reins when Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk finally decide to move on. They could stand to get better along the blueline, but they will find some prospects that can move up and contribute there as well next season. Most importantly, they already have what looks like a franchise goalie in Petr Mrazek, as he is a guy that could man the Red Wings net for the next decade. This team’s future will be left in the very capable hands of Jeff Blashill, and it will be up to him to develop these young players over the next couple of years. Once they do finally develop, I have a feeling Babcock will seriously regret walking away.
It will more than likely take us a few years before we fully realize the impacts of this decision. All eyes will be on Toronto as the hockey world waits to see if Babcock succeeds or fails. If he succeeds, then he solidifies his place in hockey lore as one of the best coaches of all time. If he fails, Toronto will be forever doomed to mediocrity, and many will question why he left Detroit in the first place. One thing I am certain of, is that it will be entertaining to watch, so for now, I am ready to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
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