He was never coming here -- he's either going to a team closer to winning than the Flyers, or a team at the absolute bottom, or staying in Detroit

I still think, at the end of the day, it's Toronto
- AllInForFlyers

I think you are right.

If a guy like Babcock isn't interested in coaching the Flyers, but he's entertaining offers from the Sabres, Sharks, Leafs etc..... Do you find that concerning?
- PLindbergh31

Nope, not one bit.

Maybe he has personal reasons why he won't/can't.
Maybe Philly doesn't present the kind of challenge/opportunity he wants.
Maybe his comments about wanting to significantly raise the bar for coach salaries worked against him as far as Philly is concerned.

If a guy like Babcock isn't interested in coaching the Flyers, but he's entertaining offers from the Sabres, Sharks, Leafs etc..... Do you find that concerning?
- PLindbergh31

I think your asking all the right questions. Seeing how Dave Hakstol is an unknown and there were much bigger fish out there, it's hard to believe we explored all options on the block. Dave Tippitt might decide he may need a fresh start. It's hard not to have a critical opinion right now unless you believe Hextall walks on water.

I can't wait until the first loss in the pre-season to be on here! Better yet, God help us if they lose in that July scrimmage to the Caps rookies!
- hockeylover

LOL. I don't even know why the keep score in pre-season games. I suppose it's so they can charge fans for the tickets.

Ok... Maybe Hextall looks like a genius with this hire. We're going to find out aren't we?
- PLindbergh31

I just think people are overrating Babcock. Detroit wasn't even that good this year. If you take out the shootouts, the Wings barely make the playoffs. He's not some miracle worker.

No, because the power structure of those front offices are different.

Especially the Leafs. Have they even hired a GM yet? I bet Babcock would LOVE more GM like responsibilities.
- johndewar

Babcock doesn't want to be a GM. He's already come out and said he's not qualified for that position.

LOL. I don't even know why the keep score in pre-season games. I suppose it's so they can charge fans for the tickets.
- PLindbergh31

I barely pay attention to the score of those games.

I try to watch the new, hot shot prospect that is up for a cup of coffee during those games.

Otherwise, going to those games is like going to an expensive bar with an $90 cover charge.

I think your asking all the right questions. Seeing how Dave Hakstol is an unknown and there were much bigger fish out there, it's hard to believe we explored all options on the block. Dave Tippitt might decide he may need a fresh start. It's hard not to have a critical opinion right now unless you believe Hextall walks on water.
- SuperSchennBros

That's my issue. It doesn't seem like all options were explored. Look I won't pretend to know anything about Hakstol, I'm pretty sure not many people who post on here do. But this is a pretty big gamble imo. I understand the Flyers are rebuilding, but on the surface seems like a reach to me.

I think you are right.
- johndewar

The Flyers are in the middle -- they could take a big step forward, or they could stay exactly where they are if the young players on the roster and in the system don't get the job done

They're not drafting first or second, and unless you strip it to the walls, they're not gonna pick first or second in the foreseeable future

So no, if you're Mike Babcock, there are better opportunities right now, including staying in Detroit

How do you explain him getting to the Frozen 4 seven times and not coming away with a single Title?

I'm guessing he didn't have much talent, had teams that overachieved and then were overwhelmed by far superior talent. How am I doing?
- PLindbergh31

no clue i just make sarcastic comments

Babcock doesn't want to be a GM. He's already come out and said he's not qualified for that position.
- SuperSchennBros

Sure, he doesn't want to be GM.

Until he wants "input" on personnel decisions.

It's all about power and money. Don't believe everything these guys put out there. Toronto is an ideal situation for Babcock.

If he fails,......so what, it's Toronto and his legacy is fine.
If he succeeds, he'll be a legend up there.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20150519_The_upshot_of_the_Flyers__decision_to_hire_Hakstol.html


- aightwebang17

Pulitzer-worthy work.

I just think people are overrating Babcock. Detroit wasn't even that good this year. If you take out the shootouts, the Wings barely make the playoffs. He's not some miracle worker.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm not saying he's some kind of hockey god. The guy does have a pretty good NHL resume. He's very sought after by a lot of teams. That means something. I wonder how many NHL offers Hakstol was weighing before accepting the Flyers job.

Sure, he doesn't want to be GM.

Until he wants "input" on personnel decisions.

It's all about power and money. Don't believe everything these guys put out there. Toronto is an ideal situation for Babcock.

If he fails,......so what, it's Toronto and his legacy is fine.
If he succeeds, he'll be a legend up there.
- johndewar

If it were me, I'd already be in Toronto -- you can literally walk in there and banish every single player you think you can't win with, over time, and start from the ground floor

The fans there already know it'll be at least three years before you even sniff the playoffs

That's my issue. It doesn't seem like all options were explored. Look I won't pretend to know anything about Hakstol, I'm pretty sure not many people who post on here do. But this is a pretty big gamble imo. I understand the Flyers are rebuilding, but on the surface seems like a reach to me.
- PLindbergh31

And again, Berube didn't have a lot of Head Coaching experience either at the NHL level. In fact, he had none but he worked his way up through the ranks and it didn't workout. I don't want to be in the same position we were yesterday or last week in 2 years from now because we took a gamble on a guy and it didn't workout. I think we should have hired an NHL Coach.

If it were me, I'd already be in Toronto -- you can literally walk in there and banish every single player you think you can't win with, over time, and start from the ground floor

The fans there already know it'll be at least three years before you even sniff the playoffs
- AllInForFlyers

EXACTLY.

While he might be coach in title only, he could wield power there that he may not have in Detroit or that other places may not give him.

The other teams that want Babcock should thank Hextall for taking away the wildcard franchise that might have, in the past, opened the vault for Babcock.

It's silly to have blind faith and not be curious how they came to this decision with so many traditional options available. Just because I hate the move doesn't mean I won't support him or don't want him to do well. I'm just afraid he's going to be in over his head.
- Flyers1218

I think it's silly to not like the guy when really none of us know much about him. Why are you afraid he is going to be in over his head? What specifically makes you think this specific coach is not a good hire, or will be in over his head?

I mean this hasn't been done since the early to mid 80's. You don't see coaches go from NCAA hockey directly to an NHL head coaching job.
I'm not saying it can't work, but to me this wreaks of Hextall trying to be the smartest guy in the room.

Sure, he doesn't want to be GM.

Until he wants "input" on personnel decisions.

It's all about power and money. Don't believe everything these guys put out there. Toronto is an ideal situation for Babcock.

If he fails,......so what, it's Toronto and his legacy is fine.
If he succeeds, he'll be a legend up there.
- johndewar

I'm not debating this. I've heard right from Babcock's mouth on the radio here in Detroit that he doesn't want to be a GM. With this said, there has to be a certain level of say and communication between the Coach and GM.

I like the hire. Despite the hextall kid issue.


Everything I'm seeing about this guy

Bye bye grossman, schenn, and gudas it was nice knowing you.

He seems to get that there is little value in shot blocking and porch clearing on the back end.

Puck retrieval will reign supreme. Dmen need to retrieve the puck and that's 1, 2, 3 in importance.

I'm happy. It's a fresh direction, fresh ideas, and a coach that will be worried about growing a program maybe more than polishing a resume.

Go flyers.
- Just5

'I think there is a number of assumptions being made here.

I mean this hasn't been done since the early to mid 80's. You don't see coaches go from NCAA hockey directly to an NHL head coaching job.
I'm not saying it can't work, but to me this wreaks of Hextall trying to be the smartest guy in the room.
- PLindbergh31

I used these exact same words earlier today and I have the exact same feeling. Again, I'm not bashing the move. I don't feel like you are either. I think your asking some questions that really need to be asked.

It is impossible. No move is going to please everyone. I'm not for just sitting here and bashing the move for no reason. I felt there were better options out there. Doesn't mean they were going to get what they targeted, but I'm unhappy if the Flyers really did make him their number 1 target. That said, I think Babcock was their number 1 choice and he told them no.
- Flyers1218

Even if you thought there were better options out there, how does that make it a bad hiring?

I'm not debating this. I've heard right from Babcock's mouth on the radio here in Detroit that he doesn't want to be a GM. With this said, there has to be a certain level of say and communication between the Coach and GM.
- SuperSchennBros

And by "certain level of say and communication between the Coach and GM", Mike Babcock probably means "The GM, whoever he is, has to listen to me more....and possibly do what I say".

Mike Keenan had less experience and 10+year younger when he got his big first gig with the flyers,but Keenan had a better deeper roster

That's my issue. It doesn't seem like all options were explored.
- PLindbergh31

Since there was such tight secrecy about this guy, and nobody saw it coming, how can you say that there weren't other options explored?

And to the Mods - I did not intend to report any posts. Someone broke the page and the software here goes haywire when that happens, I guess. I clicked on the "" twice and got the "thanks for blah, blah, blah..." message