Playoff previews and news, fallout from the Leafs front-office housecleaning and five takeaways from another lost season for the Oilers.
Playoff previews and news.
As the playoffs approach, the Canadiens must stop over-relying on Carey Price to steal games.
LA PRESSE/OTTAWA SUN: The Montreal Canadiens acknowledge they must play better in front of superstar goalie Carey Price. TSN’s Ray Ferraro helps Bruce Garrioch preview the Canadiens-Senators series, predicting the Canadiens will win in six games.
THE VANCOUVER SUN/CALGARY SUN: The Vancouver Canucks are looking forward to their upcoming series against the Calgary Flames. Wes Gilbertson has five burning questions for the Flames as they prepare for their first playoff series since 2009, which includes the Flames’ top line continuing to roll and the need to shut down the Sedin twins.
WINNIPEG SUN: Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec must prove his strong late-season performance was no fluke in the upcoming series against the Anaheim Ducks.
TORONTO SUN/TORONTO STAR: In the wake of the Maple Leafs’ front office and coaching staff housecleaning yesterday, Steve Buffery reports team president Brendan Shanahan has career-defining decisions to make. Mark Zwolinski lists the possible candidates for head coach, of which Detroit’s Mike Babcock tops the list, followed by San Jose’s Todd McLellan, former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma and Boston’s Claude Julien.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: That list could become clearer in the coming days once McLellan’s and Julien’s statuses are clarified with their current teams. I still have my doubts over Babcock’s availability.
SPORTSNET: Mark Spector breaks down another lost season for the Edmonton Oilers.
The coaching carousel could be as interesting as the trading on draft day. Philly and Toronto both want big name coaches. I also read that Terry Pagulla in Buffalo is going to put on a full court press for Babcock.
Pegula is all about the big splash – He made big splashes with Regehr, with Ehrhoff, with Leino – He made a big splash bringing in LaFontaine – A big splash in throwing insane money at the Wilson family to buy the Bills; another big splash hiring Rex Ryan…All splash – No substance.
Why would Babcock – Tethered to a legacy-organization that has shown nothing but loyalty and class to all their personnel; set the paradigm, over the course of the Ilitch’s ownership – Want to sign on with the discordant mess embodied by the current Buffalo Sabres? A team that arbitrarily marginalizes and discards its’ very own; its’ best?
Why would Babcock want to abdicate the working relationship he has with Kenny Holland and Jim Devellano (and other Wings’ executives) to find himself butting heads with a first-time GM – A test of wills that’s bound to reveal itself, when two radically-disparate Hockey cultures clash – A self-admitted “my way or the highway” GM, who already has his “favorite” (bench boss) in mind, headed into this coaching search?
The only way Babcock signs with Buffalo is if Pegula offers him some obscene amount of money (in the $10+ mil range) and subjugates all of Tim Murray’s personnel decisions to the head coach’s final say…And that doesn’t seem likely.
…Though, who knows? Clownshow begets even greater clownshow.
Babcock would do well to stay as far away as possible from that pit of impulsive, disloyal vipers.
The Leafs should get some nice assets for Kessel and co.
Even if they do get McDavid they will need some big bodies so they don’t get abused physically (see Edmonton). I love that Fraser McLaren is keeping an eye on the baby Buds.
Players like Backes up front and another Polak type D are needed.
Another year of the tank and an opportunity of drafting Matthews and we are well on our way.
With no budget for scouting and development, invest here. Use the ECHL for even more development.
Simple. Dubas, Hunter, and Shanny, let’s do it!
The TML is a long term restructure, I can’t believe they’ll go once again for a band aide approach. So which coach wants to take a 4-5 year rebuild on and face the idiot media every day for 5 years. Here’s a thought. I understand the 2016 draft is also a very good draft how about positioning themselves for that with Teddy Nolan who has done wonders for Buffalo’s future. I’m thinking there’s going to be more than one coach in the next few years in TO so why not starton the right foot and get a top pick in 2016
I hope none of Babcock, McLelland, Julien or Bylsma are hired as coaches of the Leafs. It will be a long rebuild and these coaches are not rebuild coaches. They are used to have competitive, veteran laden teams. Leafs need a Jeff Blashill or Ralph Kreuger type coach who can teach and nurture young players in their development.