Guest Playmaker Report post Posted April 12, 2014 I have to admit, when I heard the Avs hired Roy, I thought it would be a total disaster. He sure proved me wrong. At the height of the rivalry, I hated him, too. But when you see him and Ozzie doing an interview together and McCarty and Lemieux doing autograph signings together, it's clear they've moved on, so I have too. These award are no different than the Oscars or the Emmys or Grammys. They're not based on fact and there is no "best". It all depends on how you look at it and personal opinion. I think had the Wings won the division or something with this lineup, Babcock would be the front runner. But the Wings squeaked in the playoffs in the final week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted April 12, 2014 To me it's not just injuries, but the success of the guys who replaced them. Every game on NBC this year (and CBC too I think) has been about how good a job of coaching Babcock has done this year. He's had to actually coach more this year etc. The difference between Penguins injuries and ours comes down to the fact they still had their top line of Crosby and Malkin for most of the year. (Crosby has missed 1 game) As well they have 7 players with 71+ GP vs. our 4 (Quincey, Miller, Kronwall and Lashoff) We have lost to injury a lot of our leadership, we've practically gone through a rebuild while the season was still going and yet we found a way to (almost) make the playoffs. We have players exceeding their potential, all the young guys are chipping in and we are better now than when we started. This is a testament to a good coach, getting the most out of his players. As a fan base here, we didn't think we would make the playoffs because of all these injuries, and yet Babcock kept this team believing, pushing his players to be better, to learn and compete with the best of teams. Pittsburgh didn't suffer that kind of loss, yes they lost Letang and Vokoun for practically the entire season, but they still had Fleury (and defence doesn't matter to them anyway). That's why I think Babcock deserves recognition as the best coach this year. Roy and Cooper did great jobs with their teams too, but I think Babcock had more responsibility for his team's successes and failures than the others. I have to be honest....I really don't see how you can argue the Detroit has hard the more difficult year with injuries. I can understand suggesting they were equal, but your comments are far too biased in playing down the Pens injuries and playing up the Wings injuries. The Wings have missed both Datsyuk and Zetterberg for significant time, but I'm not sure I'd qualify any of the other players that missed time as significantly important players. The Pens have missed one of their first liners for more than half the year and both Malkin and Neal have missed 20+ games each. Their top 2 defensemen have missed more than half the year and their backup goalie has been gone all year. I remember one stretch where they were playing without all of their top 6 Dmen. They will also finish 15+ points ahead in the standings. I wouldn't be surprised if Roy gets it though. Hard to argue when your team goes from 29th overall to either 2nd, 3rd, 4th....something like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,198 Report post Posted April 12, 2014 If I look at it objectively, I think Roy should win it. Mike Babcock is the best hockey coach in the world, period. But that's not at all how it works with the Jack Adams. It's not like the Hart, where the same guy can win it every season. It's, Who blew expectations out of the water this season? And that's Roy. Babs - widely regarded as the best in the business - dealt with injuries and got his team into the playoffs, barely. Roy - with no coaching experience at the pro level - inherited a godawful young team and has it challenging for first in the absurdly tough Western Conference with a couple games left. Babs had to coach kids. Roy...had to coach kids. I don't necessarily like that they look at it this way. But they do. Which is why Roy will win. And, honestly, good for him. I hate him, but you can't deny that what's happening in Colorado is amazing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frankgrimes 1,836 Report post Posted April 12, 2014 If I look at it objectively, I think Roy should win it. Mike Babcock is the best hockey coach in the world, period. But that's not at all how it works with the Jack Adams. It's not like the Hart, where the same guy can win it every season. It's, Who blew expectations out of the water this season? And that's Roy. Babs - widely regarded as the best in the business - dealt with injuries and got his team into the playoffs, barely. Roy - with no coaching experience at the pro level - inherited a godawful young team and has it challenging for first in the absurdly tough Western8 Conference with a couple left. Babs had to coach kids. Roy...had to coach kids. I don't necessarily like that they look at it this way. But they do. Which is why Roy will win. And, honestly, good for him. I hate him, but you can't deny that what's happening in Colorado is amazing. Yeah Roy will win it but it shouldn't be a landslide win, the Avalanche needed 5 top 5 picks for their miracle so a certain word comes immediately to my mind... I don't even care if Babcock wins it the job he has done this year is outstanding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Take this with as many grains of salt as you prefer. During the day, TSN replays "That's Hockey 2Nite" from the previous evening. One of the topics dealt with on Monday's replay was the playoffs. When the discussion got around to Colorado, show host Steve Kouleas intimated that two of the awards had already been voted and decided: the Calder Memorial Trophy and the Jack Adams Award and both were won by the Avalanche, saying that sometimes this information "slips out". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Euro_Twins 4,469 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Take this with as many grains of salt as you prefer. During the day, TSN replays "That's Hockey 2Nite" from the previous evening. One of the topics dealt with on Monday's replay was the playoffs. When the discussion got around to Colorado, show host Steve Kouleas intimated that two of the awards had already been voted and decided: the Calder Memorial Trophy and the Jack Adams Award and both were won by the Avalanche, saying that sometimes this information "slips out". While I don't doubt that it's possible they may have won both. I highly doubt that information just "slipped out" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ally 448 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 The fact that Babcock hasn't won this trophy despite his incredible career is a bit of a joke. When the team was stacked he didn't win because they were too good. Now he can't win because other teams did better. Give the man the award. He deserves it. 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Euro_Twins 4,469 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 The fact that Babcock hasn't won this trophy despite his incredible career is a bit of a joke. When the team was stacked he didn't win because they were too good. Now he can't win because other teams did better. Give the man the award. He deserves it. Has ever even been nominated? Several coaches have won with stacked teams, bylsma, boudreau, vigneault. Others have won because they coached through adversity, it seems they just give it to whoever they feel like, no real rhyme or reason. If ever there were a year for babs to win it would be this year. Also last year babs was in 10th place in voting for it 1 Hockeymom1960 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Roy will in it and to be honest, there is a lot of talent on that young Avalanche team. He is competitive and knows what it takes it make it work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightfall 871 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Heck, if I was voting I would vote for Roy as well. Yea, he is a dork, but the guy can coach and he has helped the Avs get back into the playoffs this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z Winged Dangler 2,082 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 I think Babcock wins it this year to join Blashill on top of the coaching world. Not sure how the hell the Griffins have a better record this year than last year with half the Griffins helping the Wings make the playoffs. Unbelievable job by the entire Wings organization. Heck, if I was voting I would vote for Roy as well. Yea, he is a dork, but the guy can coach and he has helped the Avs get back into the playoffs this year. The Avs won the draft lottery last year after dealing with the type of injuries we had this year. Roy got to deal with a fully healthy team this year + McKinnon which the last coach didn't have. Basically, Babcock coached last years Avs team to the playoffs if you think about it. I'd give it to Babcock because of that. I don't always agree with all of Babs' decisions, but he deserves it this year. The Avs have a good record, but I wouldn't say he did anything spectacular. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 I don't think Babcock will win it, but he may get more votes than usual because of the Olympics. It serves as a reminder to the none too bright hockey media that he's a great coach. And looking at last years results it's unbelievable the guys who got more votes than Babs. Oates?? Carlyle? And Sutter at the bottom of the list with one third place vote. It makes me think Babcock will never win one because the hockey broadcasters sure have a funny idea of which coaches contributed most to their team's success. At least one person at CBC thinks he should win it. http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2014/04/mike-babcock-deserves-coach-of-the-year-award.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Playmaker Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Because there is no tangible way to measure it. Just like "Most Valuable" is subjective. There are a ton of good players who never win the Hart Trophy or the Norris, etc. So many variables go into the equation. I'm guessing Bab's isn't losing any sleep over it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tr!PoD#19 524 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Worse than the Lady Bing, this award is. 1 kipwinger reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted April 17, 2014 Named in honour of his wife? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rhah 195 Report post Posted April 17, 2014 Heck, if I was voting I would vote for Roy as well. Yea, he is a dork, but the guy can coach and he has helped the Avs get back into the playoffs this year. I still feel like Roy is a month or 2 of adversity from completely having a meltdown and never recovering. He should enjoy his success while he can, I predict he goes down in wave of flames like he has done before... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loutswings 47 Report post Posted April 17, 2014 I still feel like Roy is a month or 2 of adversity from completely having a meltdown and never recovering. He should enjoy his success while he can, I predict he goes down in wave of flames like he has done before... It's a bed of roses now. Just wait when the team doesn't perform to his liking and he has a melt down. The locker room will turn on him. Happened to Hitchcock @ Cbus. 1 Rhah reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites