Mike Babcock is one of professional hockey's most polarizing figures and for good reason. The veteran coach was ousted from Toronto some years ago after it came out that his behavior towards his players was quite rough, stepping over some major lines on multiple occasions. As he prepares to make his comeback with Columbus, he's decided to reflect on his time with the Maple Leafs.
Babcock Reveals the Truth
Babcock spoke to the media recently, where he was asked about his time in Toronto, and whether or not he had any regrets over it. He had the following to say:
"Do I like how I was talked about after I left? No. Do I think I did anything wrong? Absolutely." - Mike Babcock
This was quite surprising to hear from Babcock, especially when you consider that he's spoken very little about his time coaching Toronto over the past few years.
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While his comments should be taken with a grain of salt, as he didn't go into very much detail, it does appear as though Babcock has put some serious thought into how he handled Toronto.
Babcock's Growth
Babcock went on to discuss how he's changed and grown as a coach following his dismissal from the Maple Leafs.
"You're trying to be a better coach, trying to be a better person. To me, the last three-and-a-half years have been a gift from God. And what I mean by that is, (for) my wife and I and my family, we found so much joy in doing the things you love to do. And when you're in the rat race like I was for a long, long time, I think sometimes you're just spinning so fast. You enjoy that time to breathe a little bit and then you can get outside your body and have a look at who you are and say, ‘Hey, these are things I've got to improve'." - Mike Babcock
It looks like Babcock has enjoyed his much-needed time away from the NHL, but is ready to get back to doing what he loves.
Babcock has never been the fondest of players who rely too much on their skill, which will make for an interesting dynamic as he takes control of a roster with the likes of Patrick Laine, Johnny Gaudreau, and recent 3rd overall draft pick Adam Fantilli. Perhaps he views that style of play differently since his departure from Toronto. Only time will tell now.
As Seen on Markerzone - Mike Babcock Gets Brutally Honest About His Time in Toronto
| POLL | ||
3 AOUT | 41 ANSWERS Mike Babcock Reveals the Truth Regarding His Time in Toronto Is Mike Babcock a good NHL coach? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 65.9 % |
| No | 14 | 34.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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