Buffalo Sabres Miss Out On Mike Babcock: Who Cares?

By Melissa Kania | May 21, 2015

Buffalo Sabres fans spent the last few weeks surrounding by rumors and speculation about whether or not Mike Babcock would become the team’s 17th head coach. After Ted Nolan‘s firing and rumors of Babcock’s decision to leave Detroit emerged, it was all anyone could talk about.

If Babcock was thinking of leaving the Red Wings, and the Sabres had an opening, could that be a potential match? Surely, Terry Pegula could put up the money for Babcock; plus, with the Sabres, he’d get a chance to coach some top prospects including Sam Reinhart and Jack Eichel, while coaching in a city once christened “Hockey Heaven.”

For a while, it was all hearsay. No one could talk to Babcock yet, as he was still under contract with the Wings, but that sure didn’t stop the speculation. Eventually, Detroit allowed other teams permission to talk to him, as long as they agreed to compensate with a third-round draft pick. Sure, great, fine.

This is where things really got interesting, but it’s also where the rumors got messy.

Edmonton, Buffalo and Detroit were considered frontrunners. Toronto was also in the mix. Babcock was asked at pretty much every opportunity the media got what his thoughts were. He visited the Leafs, then came to Buffalo and met with Pegula.

Eventually, he said he’d have a decision on Wednesday, the 20th.

Even after that, teams like St. Louis and San Jose suddenly seemed to enter the mix. Edmonton hired Todd McLellan, knocking them out of the race. It was reported that Toronto was out, too, and things seemed promising for the Buffalo Sabres to hire Mike Babcock.

Then, suddenly, it all fell to pieces, and the Toronto Maple Leafs – of all teams – announced they’d hired Babcock.

Buffalo Sabres fans can allow themselves a moment of disappointment here, but my honest feelings: “oh well.”

More from Sabres News

The entire situation with Babcock read out like a soap opera. Part of it was undoubtedly due to the media’s treatment of the whole situation, but he had way too much power. As the rumors just kept piling up, I pushed them aside and said “Someone call me when he makes an actual decision.”

Babcock at one point said he’d be talking to his family on Monday or Tuesday before announcing the decision on Wednesday, but you have to think that was an exaggeration — you mean to tell me they weren’t a part of the discussion this entire time?

Another part of the soap opera saga: the sudden, last-minute introduction of the Blues and Sharks to the mix. Two days before he was announcing his decision, he was still meeting with new teams. For a minute, I really thought we’d see him push his timeline back even further. After all, he could do it — he had all the power. It really seemed at some points that he was almost hungry with power, pushing and pulling, like a tug-of-war.

In the end, Babcock isn’t coming to the Buffalo Sabres, and it’s definitely not the end of the world. He’ll go make bank of $8 million in Toronto, a number that Terry Pegula surely could have matched if he wanted to – and maybe he did. Did Babcock use the Sabres as leverage? Who knows? Who cares?

In Toronto, he’ll likely have all the power he wants, which in my opinion, isn’t right for a coach. Your duties are one thing, and there needs to be boundaries — after all, you’re not running the entire organization. You want all the power? Go ahead and take it, just not with us.

I think to some extent, the name Mike Babcock was just appealing to the Buffalo Sabres fanbase. He’s a big-name coach, sure, but does that necessarily mean he’d be a good fit for the Sabres? Any time a big-name coach is available, of course you want him. And the fact that the Sabres had a chance at him made it even better. But it’s not the end of the world that he chose Toronto. (Though he’s sure to get booed when the Leafs come to town, hoo boy.)

Buffalonians have a lot of pride in their city, and if Babcock would rather go to Toronto, let him. Have fun with that. The Buffalo Sabres are sure to find another suitable coaching candidate who will cherish the opportunity, and it’ll be an interesting next few weeks (months?) as the team continues to look at other options. Bab-bye.

Next: Year in Review: Brian Gionta

More from Sabre Noise

Home/Sabres News