One thing is clear as the Leafs enter the Mike Babcock regime. The team is going to be terrible for the immediate future.
And that’s a good thing.
Babcock, the 30th coach in team history, was introduced to the Toronto media on Thursday morning. The Leafs gleefully won the sweepstakes for the now-former Red Wings bench boss, inking him to an eight-year $50-million deal.
Babcock’s credentials don’t need repeating, but let’s list them anyway. He is the only coach in the IIHF Triple Gold Club, comprised of members who have completed the rare feat of winning a Stanley Cup (2008), a World Championship (2004) and an Olympic gold medal (2010 and 2014).