Former Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is back in Toronto, getting ready to face the organization he spent more than four seasons with before being fired just 23 games into the 2019-20 season.
Babcock and the Pacific Division-leading Edmonton Oilers will take on the struggling Maple Leafs Saturday at Scotiabank Arena, marking the 63-year-old’s first game in Toronto since his departure.
The Leafs hammered the Oilers, 7-2, in Edmonton on Oct. 24.
During a media availability on Friday, Babcock said he loved his time in Toronto overall despite the lack of playoff success.
“I loved it. I worked with real good people. I enjoyed the heck out of my first three years, worked with good hockey men. I didn’t enjoy my last year and a half as much. But that’s the business,” Babcock explained. “I really enjoyed my time here. We went to a situation where we were able to draft Auston [Matthews]. The team got better. We made the playoffs and set a franchise record for points. We didn’t have enough success in the playoffs but that is often what happens with young teams. In the end they gave me a five-year holiday, which I really enjoyed.”
Following a strong run as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, highlighted by a Stanley Cup victory in 2008, as well as winning two Olympic gold medals for Canada in 2010 and 2014, Babcock was considered one of the top coaches in the NHL.
He signed a massive eight-year, $50 million deal with the Maple Leafs in May of 2015, becoming the highest-paid coach in NHL history at the time.
Following a rough first season in 2015-16, things turned around the following year with the arrivals of young stars in Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner as well as sophomore William Nylander.
Babcock led the Leafs to the playoffs in each of the next three seasons, but was eliminated in the opening round each time.
Working under team president Brendan Shanahan, Lou Lamoriello served as the Maple Leafs’ general manager for the first three seasons during Babcock’s time in Toronto before he was replaced by 32-year-old Kyle Dubas ahead of the 2018-19 season.
During Dubas’ first year in charge, the Maple Leafs once again had a strong regular season before coming up short in the playoffs, losing Game 7 to the rival Boston Bruins by a score of 5-1.
After a 9-10-4 start to the 2019-20 season, Dubas and the Leafs’ front office made the decision to fire Babcock with three seasons still left on his contract, replacing him with Sheldon Keefe.
During his time with the Leafs, Babcock posted a 173-133-45 regular-season record, but was 8-12 in the playoffs.
The current version of the Maple Leafs sits second last in the Atlantic Division with an 8-11-2 record and have lost five straight games on their current six-game homestand, all in regulation.
First-year Leafs bench boss Jim Hiller worked under Babcock as an assistant during his time in Toronto.
“This is what I know about Jim Hiller. He’s a real good man. He’s a real good person. He’s going to work hard every day and try to help the guys win,” said Babcock. “The NHL some days isn’t kind to you and you got to be kind to yourself and you got to enjoy what you’re doing. Shut off your apps or whatever the heck you have on your phone and get on with your life.”
Babcock, who had a failed attempt at an NHL comeback with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023, is now coaching a high-flying Oilers team that has a chance to win Canada’s first Stanley Cup since 1993 thanks to superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“I didn’t know I would have this much fun doing it [coaching the Oilers]. It’s been great. Lots of laughs and enjoying the guys,” said Babcock. “We have a really good leadership group. We got fun people. We got good pros. They have fun and I’m having fun. It’s been good.”
The 29-year-old McDavid is on a 200-point pace with 11 goals and 38 assists and has produced at least a point in all 20 games this season.
“It’s been really good. The coaching staff brings a lot of juice. It’s been great. Even a practice like today you can feel the energy out there on the ice,” McDavid said Friday. “I feel at times we were missing that a little bit last year. Brings a lot of juice - him and all the coaching staff - and it rubs off on the players. Definitely good feeling.”
McDavid said Babcock has “set a standard” with the Oilers.
“He’s come in and set a standard here that we strive to meet every day. When we don’t we hear about it. That’s what we want. He’s been great honestly. I can’t say anything else. He seems to care for the people around him which is important,” he said.
The Toronto native says it’s always fun to pay the Maple Leafs in his hometown, especially on a Saturday night.
“Obviously for us it’s an important game. We have a lot of Toronto guys here. This is a hometown game for a lot of guys and we want to make sure it’s a good one. Saturday night in Toronto. It’s really fun. Something that everyone looks forward to,” said McDavid.
Edmonton is 14-3-3 during Babcock’s first year with the organization and has scored a total of 81 goals, the second-best mark in the league.