Mike Babcock

Report: Mike Babcock was a finalist for Capitals head coaching job, but ‘noise’ around him sunk his candidacy

Elliotte Friedman wrote about the Capitals’ coaching search and the eventual hiring of Peter Laviolette in his latest 31 Thoughts column. While Friedman believes Laviolette was the team’s ultimate first choice, he reports that Mike Babcock, who won the Stanley Cup in 2008, got a lot of consideration from the Capitals because his interview went so well.

MacLellan only interviewed Laviolette and Babcock face-to-face due to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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Elliotte Friedman on the Capitals coaching search, what went wrong in the bubble

Sportsnet analyst Elliotte Friedman was a guest on NHL Network on Tuesday and gave some more insight into the Capitals coaching search.

Over the weekend, Friedman reported that the Capitals have interviewed Mike Babock and Gerard Gallant during Hockey Night In Canada’s Saturday Night Headlines segment. In late August, he also reported the team had interviewed Peter Laviolette after asking for permission from the Nashville Predators.

During the interview with EJ Hradek, Friedman handicapped Mike Babcock’s chances of becoming head coach while also giving context on what went wrong for the Capitals in the bubble.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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Report: Caps have interviewed Mike Babcock and Gerard Gallant

Elliote Friedman reported on Saturday night that the Washington Capitals have interviewed Gerard Gallant and Mike Babcock for the vacant head coaching job.

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By Peter Hassett 6 months ago

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The Maple Leafs tried to explain away Nazem Kadri’s dangerous hit on Alex Ovechkin

After Justin Williams put home yet another goal in this first-round series to give the Washington Capitals an overtime win and 3-2 lead over the Toronto Maple Leafs, the media waited outside the black curtain separating them from the visitor’s area at Verizon Center. When they let the media past, players stretching and riding recumbent bikes sported forlorn looks.

The Leafs are one game away from elimination, but that was not the main storyline after the game. Instead, it was Nazem Kadri‘s reckless leg-to-leg hit on Alex Ovechkin, who does not break. We’re sure of it.

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By Chris Gordon 4 years ago

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Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen finds confidence in loss: ‘We showed we could play with these guys’

The Toronto Maple Leafs squeaked into the postseason as the East’s second wildcard team. But Thursday, after taking the first-seeded Capitals to the wall, goaltender Frederik Andersen drew confidence from the Leafs’ 3-2 overtime loss in Game One.

Andersen stopped 41 of 44 shots, robbing the Caps several times in regulation and the extra frame.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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Auston Matthews opens Leafs dads’ trip by schooling Capitals

On Tuesday night against the Washington Capitals, the Maple Leafs brought along around 30 dads, brothers, and father-in-laws for a highly-anticipated trip. This season, the Leafs, under second-year head coach Mike Babcock, have a “mandate” to create a more welcoming and supportive environment for their players.

“To have these dads along, I think this is how you treat people right,” Babcock said in an article by Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. “It gives you an opportunity to thank your dad for what he’s done.”

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By Chris Gordon 4 years ago

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Real Good Coach Mike Babcock Calls Barry Trotz a Real Good Coach, Praises Andre Burakovsky

After the Capitals’ 4-2 loss to the Red Wings Wednesday, Pierre McGuire spoke to Detroit head coach Mike Babcock during NBCSN’s post-game show. There was one response from the Stanley Cup-winning bench boss that was particularly interesting to me. Babcock was asked about his long history with Barry Trotz in the Western Conference and if that gave him any insight into the game.

Babcock, considered to be one of the best coaches in the league, instead went out of his way to praise how good of a coach he thinks Trotz is.

He also briefly gushed about Andre Burakovsky, once Pierre told him what his name was.

This seemed really genuine to me, so I had to share.

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By Ian Oland 6 years ago

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