Why all the hate for Babcock?

[Donaldjr2448 43]

I'm just curious, but I have seen on some profiles here on LGW.com that Babcock should be fired. I don't understand why anyonw would say that. I personally think he is the best coach in the NHL right now. He reminds me alot of Scotty. Getting rid of Babs would be a huge mistake. I just wanted to get some reaction from the rest of Redwings nation. Now lets talk about Fedorov, JUST KIDDIN!!!!!!!!

[zata40 3]

i love babs, he rocks

[wingsfan40 0]

Babs is a huge part of our success!

I personally hope he stays around for a long time

[datsyukonethree 0]

Babcock is awesome. Only Ron Wilson and Lindy Ruff even compare.

[Guest DetroitIan]

Babcock is the man. A definite upgrade to Lewis. Anyone who thinks otherwise, obviously knows dick about Red Wings hockey. I'll take a coach that gets us 2 games from the Stanley Cup Finals, over a coach that gets us ousted in the first round. All hail Babcock!

[redwingslady87 130]

I'm just curious, but I have seen on some profiles here on LGW.com that Babcock should be fired. I don't understand why anyonw would say that. I personally think he is the best coach in the NHL right now. He reminds me alot of Scotty. Getting rid of Babs would be a huge mistake. I just wanted to get some reaction from the rest of Redwings nation. Now lets talk about Fedorov, JUST KIDDIN!!!!!!!!

I agree 100%. Babs is a lot like Scotty. Since Scotty was so loved, what i don't think people realize is that Scotty was also a "my way or the highway" kinda guy.

[BeeRYCE 2]

BECAUSE HE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED 6 ON 4 IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF THIS YEAR'S PLAYOFFS.

I don't hate the guy, but that one incident got to me.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I'm just curious, but I have seen on some profiles here on LGW.com that Babcock should be fired. I don't understand why anyonw would say that. I personally think he is the best coach in the NHL right now. He reminds me alot of Scotty. Getting rid of Babs would be a huge mistake. I just wanted to get some reaction from the rest of Redwings nation. Now lets talk about Fedorov, JUST KIDDIN!!!!!!!!

Profiles saying he should be fired? These are very stupid people.

Seriously though, I don't have any beef with Babcock. Sure, he's walked into a pretty good situation in Detroit to a franchise that has been very successful over the past decade, but I like his approach from what it seems. He seems like an easily approchable, down-to-earth guy off the ice, but at work he pushes you extremely hard and does not like slacking off, it doesn't matter if you are a star or have an established/successful rep.

As for Lewis, I don't think anybody will ever know, or can accurately say, if he got a fair chance with the Red Wings as head coach. 2 years is an awfully quick time to give somebody the ax, I don't care what team you coach. I know this is a results-driven business/sport, but sometimes you have to ask yourself if we expect too much/too fast sometimes. I think the perception of Lewis being one of those guys who was easily approachabile even off the ice, and not really being as hard-nosed hurt his chances to begin with in Detroit after being next in line after legendary Scott Bowman. He just was in an extremely tough "win" situation to be head coach for the Wings, in terms of the expectations at least. I wish he could've translated his asst. coach success with Detroit to the head coaching gig. Then, he gets axed after just 1 year in Boston. Again, results driven business, but you got to ask yourself if the bar is set too high. Coaching is just a tough gig all around....

That being said, I'm glad Babcock is the coach. This past season wasn't a make/break year for him in terms of job security, but the solid playoff run, along with the team showing some pretty good snarl/grit and not backing down from "bigger" or more "physical" teams in the playoffs shows that, at least from the look of things, he's installed a work mentality of never quitting, always working, and always busting your tail to get to a puck, finish a check, etc.

[Guest DetroitIan]

BECAUSE HE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED 6 ON 4 IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF THIS YEAR'S PLAYOFFS.

I don't hate the guy, but that one incident got to me.

I love Babcock. But actually I do agree with you there. There is no reason why we couldnt have put one more guy out there. But if thats the biggest knock on the guy, I'de say he's doing a damn good job. But yeah, that is one decision he made that I will never understand.

[bcwingsfan19 0]

I am a big fan of Babcock as well but the one and only thing I don't like is when he puts Sammy on the point during the PP.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Babs is the man. I hope he stays around for a long time. He's exactly what the Wings needed.

[ben_usmc 253]

no complaints here, hindsight is 20/20 I think for the most part he has been great. Even when some crap calls or anything else came his way or the redwings way, he' s made no excuse. Which is what makes him better then ruffs bitchy ass

[GiantRobot 0]

Babs is the man. I hope he stays around for a long time. He's exactly what the Wings needed.

Agreed, although he needs to finally let the kids play more. His hard on for Hudler killed me last year.

[Kreator13 0]

babcock is great. i dont think i'd rather have any other coach, except scotty bowman, but hes retired. he's only been in the nhl for 3 seasons so im sure he'll only get better.

[Barrie 900]

Babcock needs to realise that our pp is quite ineffective when all we do is take shots from the point (and the opposition knows this)...We have the talent to do more, but his stubborness sometimes only adds to the problem instead of fixing it.

I'm not trying to start something, but I was just thinking..... With Holmstrom in front of the net on the PP, and Lidstrom and Schneider playing D, shots from the point makes some sense. I agree though we need to try other things as well.

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

I think Babs has done a great job . he's by far one of the best coaches in the NHL. and has turned the Wings from regular season wonders to a playoff's winning team that's going to be one of the contenders for the Cup , and has kept the Wings as one of the best.

[eva unit zero 271]

I think Babs has done a great job . he's by far one of the best coaches in the NHL. and has turned the Wings from regular season wonders to a playoff's winning team that's going to be one of the contenders for the Cup , and has kept the Wings as one of the best.

What? Babcock has averaged a second round departure in his two years (two series wins in two years for an average of one per year). Let's take a look at something: In the ten years before Babcock was hired, the Wings went to the finals FOUR TIMES, attended the conference finals an additional time. They made it to the second round three more, with two first round exits. That's 20 series wins or an average of two series wins and a conference final appearance. You're going to tell me that Babcock's one good playoff run is a vast improvement over the Wings' previous playoff fortunes? Even going back 20 years, the Wings still average better than a series win per season from 1985 to 2004. While I don't disagree that the Wings will be contenders this season, I think your credit is misplaced.

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

What? Babcock has averaged a second round departure in his two years (two series wins in two years for an average of one per year). Let's take a look at something: In the ten years before Babcock was hired, the Wings went to the finals FOUR TIMES, attended the conference finals an additional time. They made it to the second round three more, with two first round exits. That's 20 series wins or an average of two series wins and a conference final appearance. You're going to tell me that Babcock's one good playoff run is a vast improvement over the Wings' previous playoff fortunes? Even going back 20 years, the Wings still average better than a series win per season from 1985 to 2004. While I don't disagree that the Wings will be contenders this season, I think your credit is misplaced.

My credit isn't missplaced. since the Wings won the cup in '02 . we've pretty much bombed every Playoff since . take into account that we just lost Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan and not many people expected the Wings to be contending for much last season . THIS is why i'm giving Babcock the credit HE deserves.

[CdnWingsFanEh 2]

My credit isn't missplaced. since the Wings won the cup in '02 . we've pretty much bombed every Playoff since . take into account that we just lost Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan and not many people expected the Wings to be contending for much last season . THIS is why i'm giving Babcock the credit HE deserves.

Exactly. I think the wings fortunes will only improve yet. Especially with Flip and Rex getting a full year of NHL experience under their belt, they'll be much more ready for the year, and the p-o's. Keep in mind it Scotty didn't win the cup his first year in Detroit. I think Babcock is one of the best in the league right now, and holland will try to hang on to him for a while (hopefully).

[Wingsfan924 0]

He's fine, but to call him great is a stretch.

[eva unit zero 271]

My credit isn't missplaced. since the Wings won the cup in '02 . we've pretty much bombed every Playoff since . take into account that we just lost Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan and not many people expected the Wings to be contending for much last season . THIS is why i'm giving Babcock the credit HE deserves.

Since the Wings won the Cup in 2002, they have won three playoff rounds in four seasons. Now what exactly was the reason they went further last season? Was it Babcock? I don't think so. I would rather Babcock to Lewis, but I don't think our fortunes would have been significantly under any number of other coaches. Babcock's inability to adapt the PP to the loss of Schneider is a glaring point in my mind. He just stuck Sammy on the point and figured everything would work as normal. He didn't try running a different formation to compensate for the fact that Lidstrom was now the only effective point man on the unit, which is what should have been done.

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

Since the Wings won the Cup in 2002, they have won three playoff rounds in four seasons. Now what exactly was the reason they went further last season? Was it Babcock? I don't think so. I would rather Babcock to Lewis, but I don't think our fortunes would have been significantly under any number of other coaches. Babcock's inability to adapt the PP to the loss of Schneider is a glaring point in my mind. He just stuck Sammy on the point and figured everything would work as normal. He didn't try running a different formation to compensate for the fact that Lidstrom was now the only effective point man on the unit, which is what should have been done.

I'm not comparing Babcock and Bowman . but Babcock's been pinned down by this thing called a salary cap . he's also not got Feds, Stevie , Shanny ,Robataille , Larionov or any of the other superstars that Scotty had when they were all in their prime . IMO Babcock has done an excellent job with the players he has at his disposal.

[Hockeyguru 0]

Dave lewis was soft. What would motivate a player more?:

Lewis(in a soft voice) Um guys I don't mean to sound mean but you need to get to the front of the net. Your not playing hard enough. But if we lose pat yourselves on the back

Babs: YOU STUIPID LAZY BASTARDS! GET THE F*CK OFF UR LAZY ASSES AND HIT SOMETHING! HIT EVERTHING THAT MOVES! GET TO THE FRONT OF THE NET OR I AM BENCHING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU LAZY PEICES OF s***!

Now I know that was a bit of an exaggeration but The point is, Mike babcock gets in ppl's faces. ANd in the world of hockey soft spoken coaches can't motivate their team the way scotty could or even babcock. I know it always motivated my team when our coach would scream at us. plus the soft aproach never worked.

I'm not comparing Babcock and Bowman . but Babcock's been pinned down by this thing called a salary cap . he's also not got Feds, Stevie , Shanny ,Robataille , Larionov or any of the other superstars that Scotty had when they were all in their prime . IMO Babcock has done an excellent job with the players he has at his disposal.

[eva unit zero 271]

I'm not comparing Babcock and Bowman . but Babcock's been pinned down by this thing called a salary cap . he's also not got Feds, Stevie , Shanny ,Robataille , Larionov or any of the other superstars that Scotty had when they were all in their prime . IMO Babcock has done an excellent job with the players he has at his disposal.

Babcock hasn't been pinned down by anything. I would argue Babcock's job is easier than other coaches because he has a good roster. The Wings spend to the cap, and had several key players making significantly less than they are worth, including Hasek, Zetterberg, Cleary, and Schneider. HOLLAND has been pinned down by the salary cap, and has done a remarkable job in assembling a very talented roster. Babcock has done a good job with what he was given, but he was given a great deal.

[Dominator2005 558]

I am a big fan of Babcock as well but the one and only thing I don't like is when he puts Sammy on the point during the PP.