[Report]: Babcock Isn’t and Shouldn’t Be on the Hot Seat Yet

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and his 31 Thoughts article and appearance on Tim & Sid show, Mike Babcock isn’t going anywhere, despite the appetite by a number of Leafs Nation to remove him.

Friedman was on with Tim & Sid on Wednesday and the hosts asked if Babcock was on the hot seat in Toronto considering the fans in Toronto are somewhat impatient. Friedman admitted Toronto was Freakazoid world when he responded, “I don’t think it’s as hot as some people would like it to be.”

Enjoy this week’s 31 Thoughts: https://t.co/rnZdjmhpi9 https://t.co/PXkQWi3uzB

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 23, 2019

Friedman was expanding on his notes from his latest 31 Thoughts article where he speculated there was some who wanted to see Babcock take the fall for the Maple Leafs’ struggles. He wrote:

It is tense in Toronto. You could see the organization was curious how things would transpire without an injured John Tavares and his calming influence. They are 1-1-1, but it simply doesn’t look right.

There continue to be questions about Babcock’s coaching philosophies for a team that is so heavily loaded up front but weaker in the bottom-six and that Babcock doesn’t trust playing Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews on the same line, even though they are Toronto’s two potent weapons.

Friedman asked, “Is it time to fully unleash them and challenge them to make the necessary improvements without sheltering?” Many in Toronto seem to think so.

Babcock Takes the Heat

Still, Friedman did also admit that one of the reasons Babcock seems safe, for now, is the amount of heat he takes from fans and media when the team struggles. He shifts a lot of the negative focus towards himself and while he hates the amount of coverage and scrutiny the team receives, he never dodges it.

Friedman speculated that the organization is well aware, that should they fire him, they have to find someone willing to stand in their and take punches as often as Babcock does, and not be afraid to do what he thinks it right, despite the criticism.

Brian Burke Weighs In

“The micromanaging that’s going on around Mike Babcock right now is bizarre, ” said Brian Burke while on the Good Show. He suggested that the fault should lay with the players, not the coach because Babcock’s game plan and strategy is right, it’s the execution that is off.

Saying the Maple Leafs have gotten better every year Babcock has been the coach, we’ll have to see how the team gets through this little dry-spell they’re on.

Related: 5 Takeaways In Ottawa Senators Win Over the Detroit Red Wings