One and Done again for former Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock

A different team, different ownership, different management but the results remain the same. It’s another one and done for former Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock.

The former Detroit Red Wings bench boss goes one and done again with the powerhouse Toronto Maple Leafs last evening in Boston taking on the Bruins in another game seven. Mike Babcock seems to be getting a lot of heat from the critical Toronto media and for a good reason but not too many people are criticizing young star forward Mitch Marner who was utterly invisible in games five through seven.

That isn’t to deflect from Babcock, but it shows when fans admire someone they will continue to be hesitant to criticize a beloved player yet will continue to point the blame elsewhere. There was a point last night where Jake Gardiner made a mistake behind his own goal; he left the puck behind as he expected a teammate to be cycling through, changing the direction while he was scampering away from a heavy Boston Bruins forecheck. The Bruins retrieved the puck and deposited into the Leafs goal, and social media blew up with the flowing negativity that is so easily found online these days about how Gardiner is junk, and won’t be missed by Leafs fans next year.

Gardiner, a pending UFA has become the Leafs punching bag after he was a minus -5 in last years’ game seven. He backed it up this year as a minus -3 last night. He was primarily paired with Travis Dermott who Leafs fans seem to love, he was also a minus -3, yet I haven’t heard much about him. Auston Matthews was a minus -3 last night too but crickets because no one wants to be overly critical of the star players or young players they love.

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This is in no way, shape or form giving Mike Babcock a free pass. Babcock won the Stanley Cup, his lone NHL championship with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008. He returned to the finals the following year and similar to this Boston Series he just finished, Babcock was up in the series 3-2 and found a way to lose.

The Detroit Red Wings had star players both Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg were in their prime, Nicklas Lidstrom was at the very end of his career, but he was still Nicklas Lidstrom. Babcock was fortunate enough to have Chris Osgood, a veteran goaltender who had been through the grind a couple of times earlier in his career take over for a struggling Hasek and get hot at the right time.

That being said, he needs to shoulder some blame for what transpired last night in Boston. John Tavares is a complete player, a superstar, mix him with younger star players like Mitch Marner, William Nylander and the prolific scoring threat of Auston Matthews you have an offensive juggernaut, and they couldn’t get the job done. Morgan Rielly may not be anything near Nicklas Lidstrom, but he’s a top NHL defenseman. Freddy Anderson is a top-five goaltender league-wide, but it wasn’t enough.

The Leafs line of Kapanen, Matthews, and Johnsson didn’t average nearly enough ice-time for a game seven especially with their team trailing. Matthews played 18:48, I mean there is no reason why he shouldn’t have played 22:00 minutes minimum. Kapanen only played 16:17 while Johnsson played 17:20. But Mike Babcock who is just as stubborn in Toronto as he was in the past with the Detroit Red Wings played Connor Brown 13:14 and a guy in Patrick Marleau who is old enough to be a grandpa 14:35.  Can you say;  favoring specific players?  It’s time for Mike Babcock to check his ego at the door.

It seems Mike Babcock has failed to change with the times by putting more trust in these young star players. In a city like Toronto, the fans have waited since 1967 for a Leafs championship; they will grow very impatient. Many fans are calling for Babcock to receive a pink slip in favor of Sheldon Keefe the Toronto Marlies head coach.

Babcock has failed to get through the first round of the playoffs in five consecutive playoff appearances. His final two seasons behind the Wings bench ended with a one and done. His first year in Toronto they finished last in the league, missing the playoffs but landed Auston Matthews in the Draft Lottery. Since then with the Leafs his teams’ have been bounced in the first round three consecutive times.

As Red Wings fans snicker watching one of their oldest rivals fail once again; we have a message for you, Mike.  If you thought the Detroit media was robust, you’re in for a long few months of torture in Toronto old friend.