Randy Carlyle relieved of his duties by Leafs

[chaps80 1,591]

The Leafs are a clusterf***, and their media is no better. I saw that Kessel interview today, and I just laughed. They thing getting rid of Carlyle will help? Honestly? Jokes.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

There's no way Babcock is interested in the Leafs job. If Maurice, Wilson, and Carlyle couldn't win in Toronto, no one can, until they get serious about winning.

The Leafs need a complete overhaul from top to bottom. It's a 10 year project assuming everything goes right. First they'd need to get rid of the core they've put together, which will take 3-4 years. Then they'd need to bottom out for 3 years and draft well. 3 more years will be needed to have their draft picks play together and learn how to win.

That Kessel trade put the organization back 10 years, I said it when it happened. I still don't understand how Burke, with Seguin and Hall available in the upcoming draft, decided to trade two #1 draft picks and a 2nd for Kessel, instead of bottoming out and trying for one of those top prospects. One bad year, and you'd have your franchise player. Each year that trade looks worse and worse. Seguin, 22, is leading the league in goals and second in points, and Hamilton, 21, could become one of the top 10 Defenseman in the League.

And yet, Leafs fans still pay the most expensive prices in the League to watch that garbage.

Burke and his team thought the Leafs would be better then they really were, their goaltending and defense didn't work so they've rushed Gustavsson, then traded for Phaneuf and Giguere but still finished with the 2nd overall. Kessel is an awesome player and I don't know why this guy is so underapreciated in Toronto ?

Not Leafsfans are paying this ridiculous prices it's the whole corporate stuff (guys in suits, looking at their stock market while at the game...) the real Leafsfans are outside watching in bars, video walls...

I personally believe their offer has to be at least 2x the amount other teams are offering and even then Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Boston are much better options with less media frenzy.

[toby91_ca 620]

There were rumours of him going to Pittsburgh due to his relationship with Crosby. Again, just media trying to find connections though....hey, Pittsburgh needs a coach, Babcock really likes Crosby and his contract is up at the end of the year, etc, etc. Pittsburgh went and got a coach and signed him to at least a 2 year deal....so they obviously don't have plans of luring Babcock.

We'll see what happens in Toronto. If they just bring in a temp guy or let the assistants run with it for the rest of the year (which is what they are doing tonight) there may be more to the Toronto thing. At the same time, you might assume Toronto wants him, but that doesn't mean he'd go there.

Edit....to this I'd also add that the hockey world is really smaller than most people think and almost everyone is connected in some way to everyone else. So, if you have reporters digging up why something makes sense due to some connection, you can pretty much ignore it as those connections are everywhere.

Edited January 7, 2015 by toby91_ca

[frankgrimes 1,836]

There were rumours of him going to Pittsburgh due to his relationship with Crosby. Again, just media trying to find connections though....hey, Pittsburgh needs a coach, Babcock really likes Crosby and his contract is up at the end of the year, etc, etc. Pittsburgh went and got a coach and signed him to at least a 2 year deal....so they obviously don't have plans of luring Babcock.

We'll see what happens in Toronto. If they just bring in a temp guy or let the assistants run with it for the rest of the year (which is what they are doing tonight) there may be more to the Toronto thing. At the same time, you might assume Toronto wants him, but that doesn't mean he'd go there.

Edit....to this I'd also add that the hockey world is really smaller than most people think and almost everyone is connected in some way to everyone else. So, if you have reporters digging up why something makes sense due to some connection, you can pretty much ignore it as those connections are everywhere.

I think Lemieux or even Burkle himself said that the payment is for 2 years but the contract - under the "right" circumstances - is for 1 year. so I wouldn't count them out so easily. Sure, it is all speculation and click-bait but at the end of the day the only one in the driver seat is Babcock himself. He has all the options can wait and then decide what's best for him and his family. but if I were him Toronto would be faaar down that list. Just look at them calling out their best player *lol*

[Jesusberg 1,256]

And with Horachek filling in as interim coach, that's only going to add fuel to the speculation that they're waiting on Babs. *sigh*

[masking_agent 2]

Carlyle’s coaching is mismatched to his personnel but that’s not the only reason. Here’s a little bit of Toronto history for those who want to see what Babcock would be stepping into.

I live in Toronto but am a die hard Red Wings fan. I follow hockey so everything is a delusional blue and white in this town. You guys made some great points about the Maple leaf organization. I for one would HATE for Babcock to come to Toronto. It would be one of the stupidest moves in NHL history. He won’t be able to turn this ship around. No coach will ever be able to do ANYTHING with this franchise until Bell and Rogers sell their ownership to a single person. Its simply, 47 years of bad management, bad ownership of which will continue, is the KEY problem here in Toronto.
Why coaches haven't succeeded here but prospered elsewhere? There is a huge disconnect between ownership , management and coaches. They are rarely on the same page.
In the 90's the Leafs keep throwing money at free agents and win "now" vs build the from the bottom up. Due to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which has a new salary cap, they are forced to re-build up from the bottom up, but DON’T KNOW HOW, because the people in charge of drafting, scouting, and development are useless.

The team is owned and operated by two giant communication companies who are essentially at war. Bell wanted Brian Burke fired, Rogers didn’t, but eventually went along with it. The club was forced to abstain from a league vote approving the new Rogers TV deal last winter because the two sides couldn’t agree yet again. So that’s always the never ending problem. The two sides can never agree.

Nonis has managed to somehow stay relatively unscathed. Not for long hopefully. But starting initially as Brian Burke’s right hand man, then on his own, and now under Brendan Shanahan, he has been a key figure in Toronto’s demise, making critical errors that continue to cost the organization dearly.

Nonis - The seven-year, $36.75-million (U.S.) deal given to a one-dimensional third-line player in David Clarkson and the real kicker is Nonis tried to double do similar to the Dave Bolland contracts talks this past summer.
With two boat anchors like that, it’s hard to imagine how Shanahan could ever plow his way out.

The other troubling part of all this is that if you take a long, hard look at Toronto’s front office, it’s pretty low on experience at the NHL level. Shanahan doesn’t have it. Assistant GM Kyle Dubas and new director of player personnel Mark Hunter don’t either. Shanahan has never built a team, nor faced an ownership like this. Again, doomed for failure.

To show how little Lieweke knew about hockey. He thought hiring Daryl Sutter as the coach of the L.A. kings would be a bad move. Three years later, his coach is the envy of most in the NHL, Lombardi is running the model franchise and the Kings have two Stanley Cups under Sutter. Lieweke is a basketball guy and even he has resigned as head of MLSE.

The Leafs are mediocre and unfortunately they have committed huge dollars to mediocre players, so I hope Babcock knows what he’s in for ?

[Euro_Twins 4,476]

Just had a ridiculous conversation with a guy at work. He tried to convince me that the head coach job of the leads is the most coveted job in sports and that any cochlear would bend over backwards to get it. In other news I heard Sutter was begging to be fired so he could go coach the great "leafs nation"

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Just had a ridiculous conversation with a guy at work. He tried to convince me that the head coach job of the leads is the most coveted job in sports and that any cochlear would bend over backwards to get it. In other news I heard Sutter was begging to be fired so he could go coach the great "leafs nation"

Yup sure so their kids, loved ones could get bullied under that 24/7 microscope. Just look at Kessel the guy is rightfully pissed with a reporter and what is a freaking headline on TSN, Torontosun and SN seriously not his 18 goals (teamleading by far top 10 NHL...) no that he called an idiot an idiot is the mainstory *lol*

Also Leafs-Nation seems to think that changing the coach alone and getting rid of their best player will bring them to the promised land ya sure.

Had the same conversation with a good friend of mine a few minutes ago, he told me "you do know we are going to get Babcock so why not now? We have the money the Wings don't") needless to say I've reminded him on WHO the top spenders were pre-salarycap and that we have the best owner in all of sports. The job there is for sure a challenge and maybe Babcock likes such an amount of pressure but If I where him I'd go to Pittsburgh and coach them to another cup. At least he told me the Leafs might bring up Orr and McLaren which would make him and me very happy because it means the Team is actually fun to watch again.

If Babcock leaves for the Leafs what a pun I'd prefer Hartley, Blashill or Hitchcock

Edited January 7, 2015 by frankgrimes

[rick zombo 3,739]

Yup sure so their kids, loved ones could get bullied under that 24/7 microscope. Just look at Kessel the guy is rightfully pissed with a reporter and what is a freaking headline on TSN, Torontosun and SN seriously not his 18 goals (teamleading by far top 10 NHL...) no that he called an idiot an idiot is the mainstory *lol*

Also Leafs-Nation seems to think that changing the coach alone and getting rid of their best player will bring them to the promised land ya sure.

Had the same conversation with a good friend of mine a few minutes ago, he told me "you do know we are going to get Babcock so why not now? We have the money the Wings don't") needless to say I've reminded him on WHO the top spenders were pre-salarycap and that we have the best owner in all of sports. The job there is for sure a challenge and maybe Babcock likes such an amount of pressure but If I where him I'd go to Pittsburgh and coach them to another cup. At least he told me the Leafs might bring up Orr and McLaren which would make him and me very happy because it means the Team is actually fun to watch again.

If Babcock leaves for the Leafs what a pun I'd prefer Hartley, Blashill or Hitchcock

Because it's just that easy eh? LOL

If I were him, I'd stay in Detroit.

If I were Detroit, I'm not so sure what I'd want him to do.

[kipwinger 8,524]

Because it's just that easy eh? LOL

If I were him, I'd stay in Detroit.

If I were Detroit, I'm not so sure what I'd want him to do.

It is that easy. Mike Babcock can coach any team to a Stanley Cup anytime he wants.

Why hasn't he?

Because Ken Holland is stupid and terrible.

So Babs' should go to Pittsburgh and work for Jim Rutherford. Because he's DEFINITELY not stupid and terrible. Which is why he's got all those Stanley Cups.

[BrantWing19 20]

I wonder if Babcock would be a good GM.. My d twitched a bit when I thought of holland as VP, babs as GM and blashill as coach but I'm unsure

[kipwinger 8,524]

I wonder if Babcock would be a good GM.. My d twitched a bit when I thought of holland as VP, babs as GM and blashill as coach but I'm unsure

How easy is it to find 23 Luke Glendenings?

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

The Leafs are a clusterf***, and their media is no better. I saw that Kessel interview today, and I just laughed. They thing getting rid of Carlyle will help? Honestly? Jokes.

I feel for Kessel. I can't understand how someone can sign for a team with the media Toronto has. I'd easily take 1-2 Millions less for not having to play in a city full of douchbag reporters.

I'd take Kessel in a heartbeat, like that guy a lot, but it's the same as with van Riemsdyk. Never going to happen......

[RedWingsRox 614]

I feel for Kessel. I can't understand how someone can sign for a team with the media Toronto has. I'd easily take 1-2 Millions less for not having to play in a city full of douchbag reporters.

I'd take Kessel in a heartbeat, like that guy a lot, but it's the same as with van Riemsdyk. Never going to happen......

No to Kessel ... it's obvious, crap is coming out that he is a lazy arse cancer ...

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

No to Kessel ... it's obvious, crap is coming out that he is a lazy arse cancer ...

I take any lazy arse that is able to score 30+ goals. 30+ goals with help of the kind of quality that roster of the Maple Leafs can provide. Imagine the score with centers like Dats, Z, or Weiss.

[RedWingsRox 614]

I take any lazy arse that is able to score 30+ goals. 30+ goals with help of the kind of quality that roster of the Maple Leafs can provide. Imagine the score with centers like Dats, Z, or Weiss.

I think Wilson hinted at the kind of relationship with teammates. Just imagine how frustrating it is to have a line mate that works hard 1/2 the time ... oh wait, we have Franzen.

From TSN:

- There were the comments of Leaf assistant Steve Spott, who told a group of minor hockey coaches last summer that Kessel refused to buy into things the coaches were preaching and that he hated Carlyle, who believed management wouldn't adequately deal with him.

- There was MLSE president Tim Leiweke saying his team had players with excellent stats but, "just terrible character." Whomever could he be speaking of?

- There was former Maple Leaf executive Bill Watters recently relaying a story about Kessel refusing to consider playing on left wing when approached this season by both the coaching staff and team president Brendan Shanahan.

- And there were insightful comments of former Leaf head coach Ron Wilson on Tuesday who described Kessel as a moody, hard-to-reach talent who is as capable of sinking his team with his whims as he is of elevating it.

Still want him ... not me.

Edited January 8, 2015 by RedWingsRox

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Oh yeah, Babcock wants to walk into this...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/maple-leafs-need-to-bridge-divided-dressing-room/

The best part for me is Polak's quote about guys on the blueline just wanting to play offensively. I can only imagine how Babcock would handle Franson, Gardiner and Rielly.

[masking_agent 2]

I feel for Kessel. I can't understand how someone can sign for a team with the media Toronto has. I'd easily take 1-2 Millions less for not having to play in a city full of douchbag reporters.

I'd take Kessel in a heartbeat, like that guy a lot, but it's the same as with van Riemsdyk. Never going to happen......

He had the option to become a ufa about 6-7 months agao, but the 64m they dangled in front of him was too good to turn down i guess ? No other team would have offered him 8 x8m / yr deal.. for just being mediocre, 30 goals a year, getting to do and play whatever he wants.. only in Toronto do they pay that high for mediocrity and accept such mediocrity

[Euro_Twins 4,476]

He had the option to become a ufa about 6-7 months agao, but the 64m they dangled in front of him was too good to turn down i guess ? No other team would have offered him 8 x8m / yr deal.. for just being mediocre, 30 goals a year, getting to do and play whatever he wants.. only in Toronto do they pay that high for mediocrity and accept such mediocrity

If a point per game players are mediocre then make sure you tell ovechkin and stamkos that new revelation. He might be one dimensional and lazy defensively. But he is anything but mediocre offensively

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

He had the option to become a ufa about 6-7 months agao, but the 64m they dangled in front of him was too good to turn down i guess ? No other team would have offered him 8 x8m / yr deal.. for just being mediocre, 30 goals a year, getting to do and play whatever he wants.. only in Toronto do they pay that high for mediocrity and accept such mediocrity

Your wrong. If he hit FA he would have signed 8x8 if not higher then that.

Kane got 10.8 million, he's not that different then Kessel.

No to Kessel ... it's obvious, crap is coming out that he is a lazy arse cancer ...

Yea a guy that scores PPG, and scores 35+ goals a year is lazy. Did you forget he plays in the NHL?

Easy to post he's lazy when you have no idea how hard it is to compete in the NHL.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

The lazy Kessel is top 10 in scoring without having a number one center. The Toronto media hates him because he doesn't talk add much as Lupul and of course his former coach knows how Kessel is now..

Ich

But hey if the guy is such a problem send him to Detroit and put him on Pasha 's wing

This player beat cancer, is shy, scores 30+ goals every year and yet he is blamed for Torontos problems this town would criticise Stamkos if he doesn't score every other game just crazy

Edited January 8, 2015 by frankgrimes

[toby91_ca 620]

Kessel and Kane are very similar players with similar skill sets. The two reasons Kessel takes so much heat in Toronto and Kane does not in Chicago are obvious:

1 - Chicago wins, Toronto doesn't

2 - Kane is not burdened with having to the be the guy.....which also explains #1

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

Kessel and Kane are very similar players with similar skill sets. The two reasons Kessel takes so much heat in Toronto and Kane does not in Chicago are obvious:

1 - Chicago wins, Toronto doesn't

2 - Kane is not burdened with having to the be the guy.....which also explains #1

3 - Toronto sports media is insane.

[Euro_Twins 4,476]

4: chubby cheeks

[number9 3,297]

4: chubby cheeks

5: Kessel is cool bro, Kane is ****** bro.