So Shanahan cleans house...

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Originally Posted by BIG MAC

seems yesterday morning the leafs thought they where out of the Babcock running and where actually interviewing Guy Boucher for a second time with the intent of hiring him when Babcock phoned the leafs, a leaf exec stepped out of the interview and did the deal with Babcock and went back in and told Boucher the interview was over. all this around 11:00 am yesterday.

Babcock had gone to Ken Hollands house yesterday around 8:00 am either to see if wings would up there offer or to get some guidance on what to do,,,,,in the end it came down to money as Buffalo has a better shot of making the playoffs this year than the leafs.


Babcock will be lucky to get the leafs into the playoffs in the next few years.

what a back assward organizatiion though, as now they have to hire a GM. AT least the oilers got it right by hiring the GM and letting the GM hire the coach he wanted.


his hair will be turning color every game he coaches for the Leafs.

AND i'M A LEAF FAN.

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I would think one of the conditions Babcock comes with is he gets a major say in what pieces the team acquires. With this move, whomever the Leafs put in as a GM, I think is going to be a figurehead only. I think the main decisions will be with Babcock and Shanahan.

Whether money was the motivating factor or not, Babcock comes into this situation with a lot of credit in the bank. He has proven himself as coach and leader. Many other good coaches have come into Toronto, only to leave town with their tails tucked between their legs. Will Babcock be one of them or will he pull a rabbit out of his hat? Toronto fans need to give him more than a few years to right this ship (I understand there were tools some on facebook stating the leafs are winning the cup in 2016) and relax and let the man do his job.

Dyth

i think one only needs to look at Tampa Bay, Stevie Y has been at the helm for roughly 5 seasons and has built a solid team, and I think if anyone thinks the leafs can do that in less time are only fooling themselves, hopefully they can make the playoffs sometime in the next few seasons and build the team up , i think the scouts they hire will be just as if not more important than the signing of Babcock.


Long way to go , I would say 2020 before they even think of contending for a top 4 playoff spot.

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Originally Posted by BIG MAC

i think one only needs to look at Tampa Bay, Stevie Y has been at the helm for roughly 5 seasons and has built a solid team, and I think if anyone thinks the leafs can do that in less time are only fooling themselves, hopefully they can make the playoffs sometime in the next few seasons and build the team up , i think the scouts they hire will be just as if not more important than the signing of Babcock.


Long way to go , I would say 2020 before they even think of contending for a top 4 playoff spot.

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Top 4 by 2020? I think that extremely optimistic. The house that Conn Smythe built is rotted to the core. Getting a good developmental program alone is going to cost you two years.

Dyth, what I was referring to was the cup in 2016 quote, what I meant was be happy if they are even a top 4 contender in 5 years.

be interesting to see in the coming weeks how they align themselves for the draft and who they trade or release to free up money.

Don't see Toronto and Buffalo making any trades in the near future. :) :)

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Originally Posted by BIG MAC

Dyth, what I was referring to was the cup in 2016 quote, what I meant was be happy if they are even a top 4 contender in 5 years.

be interesting to see in the coming weeks how they align themselves for the draft and who they trade or release to free up money.

Don't see Toronto and Buffalo making any trades in the near future. :) :)

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Big Mac,

Thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't taking you to task at all simply adding my comments to yours, it wasn't meant to be an argument. While I am a Habs fan, I am extremely interested to see how this will play out. While I am not a Leafs fan, I know the rivalry between our two teams should be better and the only way to see that happen is to have a better Leafs team that what is currently there.

As for trades, maybe the Leafs could get a used puckbag for Phaneuf and Nashville Ice team for Kessel (they are in better shape than he is LOL). All kidding aside, while trades are important to a team, I firmly believe in this day and age of the NHL, you have to develop your #1 star (or developing star). If a team wants to get rid of the guy they originally pegged as the team's future, it is usually for a reason (most often than not the reason isn't a talent issue).

Dyth

Agreed Dyth. I would be more than happy to get some first round draft pics for those 2 slugs and start developing a young team that hopefully can gel and play as a team. I pray to god the days of trading first round pics for Past their prime old
timers are long gone.

So in his press conference today, Babcock said that the Leafs are Canada's team. I suppose the other 5 teams don't count. I would say the Habs are Canada's team before the Leafs. Why you ask? Montreal is the oldest city in Canada with a NHL team in it, they were the last Canadian team to win the cup, the Habs are the oldest NHL team in Canada, I don't think I need to go on.

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Originally Posted by Dythbringer

So in his press conference today, Babcock said that the Leafs are Canada's team. I suppose the other 5 teams don't count. I would say the Habs are Canada's team before the Leafs. Why you ask? Montreal is the oldest city in Canada with a NHL team in it, they were the last Canadian team to win the cup, the Habs are the oldest NHL team in Canada, I don't think I need to go on.

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Montreal does not have the far reaching fan base as the Leafs, that is a fact.

It is a language thing, Montreal was the french team, english folks in Canada did not generally cheer for the french team (my mom is an exception). The Leafs are Canada's team when it comes down to fan base and cash flow.

Montreal has a lot of fans and is an older city but by no means do they have the same type of pull, good or bad, as the leafs, maybe that is why they can draw in players, not as much media BS.

Oh, and there are 6 other Canadian Teams, you forgot that Winnipeg is back.

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Originally Posted by Fox

Montreal does not have the far reaching fan base as the Leafs, that is a fact.

It is a language thing, Montreal was the french team, english folks in Canada did not generally cheer for the french team (my mom is an exception). The Leafs are Canada's team when it comes down to fan base and cash flow.

Montreal has a lot of fans and is an older city but by no means do they have the same type of pull, good or bad, as the leafs, maybe that is why they can draw in players, not as much media BS.

Oh, and there are 6 other Canadian Teams, you forgot that Winnipeg is back.

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No I didn't. Most people can't bring themselves to call the Oilers a NHL team. ;)

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Originally Posted by Dythbringer

No I didn't. Most people can't bring themselves to call the Oilers a NHL team. ;)

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Ha ha ha, how many NHL teams do we have then in total? 20?

It pains me to think that we have the distinct possibility of having 2 teams in the final and therefore a guarantee that the cup once again goes to a city where water will not freeze outside in the winter.