Mike Babcock returns to Toronto on November 14th, coming back to face the core in the same building he once helped build them in.
From 2015-16 to 2019, Mike Babcock was the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, leading them to a 173-133-45 record which included three playoff berths in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 but they couldn't get past the first round.
He was fired on Nov. 20 in the middle of an 0-5-1 stretch as then-GM Kyle Dubas and then-President Brendan Shanahan felt a new voice was needed, and they replaced him with Toronto Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe. After new information came to light about his conduct in the Maple Leafs locker room, and a sudden resignation from Columbus in 2023 following an NHLPA investigation - he quit coaching in the NHL.
Babcock returns to Toronto and faces the core he once helped build
But after the Oilers brought him out of retirement to lead them through 2026-27 and beyond, he's getting ready to put his no-nonsense style back to work - with November 14th being a key date on Babcock's calendar.
That's the date that Babcock returns to Toronto and faces a group of players he once led behind the bench and was crucial to helping them start their NHL career. Auston Matthews and William Nylander are still around after a decade, meanwhile Morgan Rielly is still the longest tenured Maple Leaf - who was already here a few years before Babcock.
But now he comes to face a group that have turned into veteran leaders. Matthews is the face of the franchise, captain, and one of the best goal scorers of his generation meanwhile Nylander has developed into a consistent 35+ goal player who is at the top of the Maple Leafs leaderboard annually.
He's also facing off against Jim Hiller, who was an assistant with the Maple Leafs under Babcock, and is now tasked with running the team himself.
Edmonton gives Babcock the championship winner Toronto once hired him to deliver
But if there's any benefit for Babcock about returning to the NHL, it's that he gets to inherit a team who is an incredibly potent team. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman are a dominant offensive group, meanwhile the team also has stars like Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman and Frederik Andersen.
That team is more than likely able to withstand the first round - something Babcock couldn't do in Toronto. It's also a bit of irony in the sense that Babcock was once trusted to help Auston Matthews grow, and now he's tasked with helping his on-ice rival Connor McDavid win a long-awaited championship.
He's coming to Toronto with a fresh mind and a fresh take after a few years away, plus has the confidence and full support of upper management and the roster - many of whom vouched for Babcock to come in.
Babcock was once handed the most lucrative coaching contract in league history, then was fired with four years left because the team needed results. But he comes back to Scotiabank Arena with a chance to rectify his failures - albeit with another superstar-led team instead.
Will Mike Babcock get a positive or negative reception when he comes back to Toronto?
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