Odds Favor Flames (+300) to Be Mike Babcock’s Next Coaching Job; Seattle NHL Team Second at +350

• Mike Babcock was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday
• He was the first NHL head coach fired this year
• Where will Babcock land? Odds favor the struggling Flames
  

For three (regular) seasons, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Mike Babcock were a near-perfect match.

Babcock guided Toronto through the most painful season in franchise history. But it landed them Auston Matthews.

The next two years, the Leafs saw gradual improvement. They increased their point production and made the playoffs.

But a terrible second half in 2018/19 and an even worse start to this season doomed Babcock’s fate. Now he’s looking for work.

Odds on Where Mike Babcock Will Coach Next

All odds taken Nov. 21.

There are a lot of interesting teams on this list. But interesting doesn’t make them likely.

Seeing the Lightning on there is surprising. Yes, they’re struggling. But they’re still sitting top three in the Stanley Cup odds, having won four of their last seven entering Thursday.

The Devils are a curious name, too, having missed the playoffs in four of John Hynes’ five seasons. It doesn’t seem like Babcock is best-suited for a youth movement, though.

The deeper you dig, the more it comes down to the Calgary Flames and Seattle, which will enter the league in the 2021-22 season.

Babcock to the Calgary Flames?

There are a number of parallels between the Leafs and Flames.

Both are coming off of disappointing ends to their 2018/19 seasons. Both were sitting on the outside of their respective playoff pictures before Thursday’s games.

And while Babcock’s firing came during a six-game losing streak, the Flames have now lose six in a row after getting shutout by St. Louis (5-0)

Maple Leafs vs Flames

The two significant differences between the teams are in goals-for and average age. And that last one could be the wild card if the Flames’ job becomes available.

It seems as if Babcock’s disconnect with his young stars in Toronto is where things soured.

Ok ive seen it three time on here… firing Bill Peters to hire Mike Babcock isnt going to be a thing. They are the same style coach, nothing would change play wise. Oh boy over drive machine is out #Flames

— John Easthope (@vintagejohnny84) November 21, 2019

The Leafs have five core players that are under the age of 24. Other than Matthew Tkachuk, Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanifin, the Flames’ core is all over 24.

It’s a small thing, but if the Flames move on from Bill Peters, Babcock could fit.

Mike Babcock and Seattle

There’s one NHL job that we know is available. And that’s in Seattle.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun addressed that possibility on Thursday.

The team that jumps to mind […] that’s Seattle. If Mike Babcock is still available and interested, I think they’re going to want to talk to him. Again, Seattle probably [is] looking to hire a coach between January and June 2021. So will he be available a year from now? 

Sure it’s a long wait, but the roster of an expansion club could be right up Babcock’s alley. And there’s nothing saying that, once Babcock enjoys his sabbatical, Seattle accelerates their coaching search.

After all, they likely weren’t expecting a coach of his caliber to be available.

And consider the kind of players Seattle will be targeting in the expansion draft. Like the Vegas Golden Knights, it’ll be castoffs. Or veterans with big contract numbers that get their teams out from under cap constraints.

"It's one of the best cities in the world."

– Mike Babcock says the @NHL hit a home run with the Seattle expansion. pic.twitter.com/fwQyrsrrCV

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 4, 2018

In other words, players who are motivated, which could be pretty attractive to Babcock and give him a lot to work with.

Mike Babcock’s Landing Spot

Despite the struggles in Calgary, we’re leaning towards Seattle. And it’s because of that big, dollar-sign-shaped cloud hanging over Bab’s head.

Again from LeBrun:

We know about the offsetting rules and you pay a coach and your old team pays the rest. Well, what if the Leafs say “you have to pick up the entire contract?

There’s a lot ($20+ million) remaining on Babcock’s deal. Just letting this year expire helps ease the financial burden.

But where other teams would have to pay an outgoing coach and Babcock, there’s only one franchise that would have to pay one.

Seattle.

The Pick: Seattle NHL Team (+350)