Former Maple Leaf Defends Mike Babcock

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Tom Banks
August 22, 2023 (8:59 PM)

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After being fired by the Maple Leafs back in 2019-20, Mike Babcock was seemingly done as an NHL coach, but now, he returns with the Columbus Blue Jackets, with fans giving a very mixed reaction.

Old-school style

While Babcock has had plenty of success in the NHL, making three Stanley Cup Finals and winning one as a coach, his old-school methods have no doubt been criticized, especially during his final tenure in Toronto.

Other coaches like Darryl Sutter have gone through the same thing, especially during his time in Calgary, but one former Maple Leafs has now stepped up and defended Babcock with optimism for his next stint in Columbus.

A new Babcock era

On the latest episode of the Raw Knuckles Podcast, former Maple Leaf Brad May defended Babcock, even suggesting a change is on the way with his style.

Here's the reason why they're excited, they're going to become better players. Babs is a hell of a coach, he's very prepared, maybe a little bit of an inability to connect to some of his players, and I'm sure over the last few years, there's a come to Jesus moment, where, hey I gotta treat people differently, the old school's out.

It appears as though the Blue Jackets are aware of this type of change too, or else they likely wouldn't have made the coaching choice, but with a talented young group, if he can finally connect with the players and adapt to the new-school approach, this move could pay off big time for the Blue Jackets.

If you do the steps necessary and you have the ability, are we all not looking for a second chance?. If my answer was no, Mike Babcock shouldn't be a coach in the NHL ever again, that's the most ignorant thing to say, in my opinion.

As Read on Blade of Steel - Former NHLer Defends Babcock and Explains Why he Deserves a Second Chance