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Mike Babcock’s Coaching Style

by Paul on 11/03/18 at 09:47 AM ET
Comments (3)

from Dave Feschuk of the Toronto Star,

“He is difficult,” Zetterberg said of Babcock, this while speaking to Detroit sportswriter Gregg Krupa. “He found a way to push me into an ‘I’m going to show you’ kind of thing. Not everyone, I think, can handle it.”

The gist of that quotation was recited to Babcock after Friday’s Maple Leafs practice. He was asked why he chooses that particular method to motivate players.

“I don’t think I do, actually,” Babcock said.

Perhaps there’s a disconnect, then, between the perceptions of Babcock’s players and Babcock’s perception of his own ways. When Zetterberg’s quote was repeated to longtime Leafs centreman Nazem Kadri, he smiled and nodded in recognition.

“I can definitely relate to that, for sure,” Kadri said. “Me and Babs have a pretty good relationship in terms of how things go. He’s able to push those buttons and me kind of respond and want to throw it in his face a little bit.”

Ditto Morgan Rielly.

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Filed in: NHL Teams, Toronto Maple Leafs, | KK Hockey | Permalink
  Tags: mike+babcock

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Paul's avatar

from Damien Cox of the Toronto Star,

So, losses to Calgary and Dallas, two Western Conference teams hungry to get back into the playoffs, can rightly be viewed as disappointments by Toronto fans, two home games that should have produced at least two points. But the shots were 32-19 in favour of the Leafs against Dallas, and 16-4 in the third. That’s not the sign of a team in serious trouble, despite what you might read on your preferred form of social media.

But this is Toronto. There there will be irrational fan reactions — blame it all on Ron Hainsey! — and there will be unreasonable ones that seemingly assume the other team isn’t also trying to win. Like, shouldn’t the Leafs really be 13-0 right now? Or at worst 12-0-1?

It’s too early for report cards, too early to note any particular trends. What we can identify, however, is the three individuals in the Leaf organization who are most likely to receive the greatest amount of scrutiny as the season continues to unfold this month.

JOHN TAVARES

Well, young man, you didn’t expect to get $77 million U.S. with no strings attached, did you?

It no longer matters whether Tavares came to Toronto for less money than he might have been able to get somewhere else. Performance is all that matters now.

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Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 11/03/18 at 10:18 AM ET

Down River Dan's avatar

Well, it took a few years , but Uncle Mike’s intensity has finally irritated the players and “media” in Toronto.  Just wait a few more years boys. cheese

Posted by Down River Dan on 11/03/18 at 02:37 PM ET

Heaton's avatar

As long as they get a cup no one will care.

The ‘issue’ that Babcock ran into at the end of his tenure in Detroit was a lack of talent.  All coaches look better with more talent.

Posted by Heaton on 11/03/18 at 05:22 PM ET

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

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