Maple Leafs group at worlds in Prague expected to make one last pitch to Mike Babcock this weekend.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) May 16, 2015
Leafs have also talked to MacLellan, DeBoer, Boucher and others. If Babcock stays in DET, they'll go hard after Jeff Blashill.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) May 16, 2015
Watching Darren Dreger’s 25-minute sit down with Ken Holland and Mike Babcock yesterday left one with the impression that staying with the Red Wings is where Babcock is leaning, but then again he was sitting right next to his good friend and long-time boss in Detroit.
The worst case scenario from the Leafs perspective would seem to be Babcock landing in Buffalo. While Babcock would be going to a new division rival, Jeff Blashill, who was given permission by Ken Holland to talk to NHL teams last summer and chose to bide his time in the AHL for one more year, would be likely to be moved up the ladder into the Wings head coaching position, no longer available to the Leafs either.
It sounds like Babcock has no interest in dragging the courting process much longer than early next week, so we’ll have our answer soon.
You also wonder if the Leafs GM search hinges to some degree on Babcock’s choice. There’s rumblings the Leafs would like to pursue Jeff Gorton in New York, who hasn’t been allowed to talk to other team while the Rangers compete deep into the playoffs. But the Leafs have likely promised Babcock enhanced input in the front office in their pitch; the dual GM-coach role is no longer a feasible one-man responsibility in modern NHL management, but Babcock is said to be seeking more involvement in the front office decision-making process than the average coach. It’s no secret Shanahan is the de facto GM (in the traditional definition of GM) in Toronto, while there have been some rumblings Mark Hunter wouldn’t mind adding the GM’s title to his placard. Does Babcock add the other voice Shanahan is looking for in management, should he choose Toronto?
That’s little more than idle speculation, though. The fact is Shanahan has much of the media totally in the dark on this and the wait and see game continues in Leafland. We do know the first domino will drop May 20th or sooner.
Saturday Links:
- Darren Dreger: Exclusive: Babcock discusses coaching future (TSN.ca)
“To be honest with you that date to me is going to be moved up. When I get home from the World Championship and sit down; enough time already, let’s get on with it. I bet you by the 20th I’m going to know what I’m doing.
I - Chris Lund: Leafs prospect Joshua starring in USHL playoffs (MapleLeafs.com)
The power forward presence of the Leafs prospect has been a massive asset and his consistency has been a key for the Stampede throughout their Clark Cup run. He has recorded points in seven of the 10 playoff games he has dressed in. The lone game he did not suit up in — game one of Sioux Falls’ series against Tri-City — was a 4-2 loss for his club.
I - Jeff Simmons: Friedman: Bernier should aim for short-term deal (Sportsnet.ca)
In a guest appearance on Dean Blundell & Co. on Friday, Friedman said that Bernier’s best course of action would be to accept a short-term deal with the Maple Leafs this summer in order to rebuild his value and essentially bet on himself.
I - David Alter: Player development staff now on deck (MapleLeafs.com)
Darryl Belfry: “What I do is I analyze players’ game habits and then problem solve from a skill development prospective to open up new pathways for them to perform.”
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