Now that most Toronto Maple Leaf fans have come down from their emotional high due to the shocking news that "Canada's Team" has hired the most sought after coach in the NHL,
Mike Babcock, for a record $50 million over eight years, including a healthy signing bonus, something unheard of in the coaching ranks.
The triple gold winner said he wanted a new challenge after 10 years in Motown. But does he realize he just signed on for a suicide mission? His $6.25 m annual hit is more than twice what
Blackhawk's coach Joel Quennville makes and he's won two Stanley Cup rings, compared to Babcock's one. But he's smiling now because his contract is up soon and he knows he's going to hit it big time. Even new Oiler coach Todd McLellan just signed for $3 m and he's in Edmonton, a small market franchise.
So who's happy with this signing? All the other coaches of course, because now a new higher standard (bar) has been set. Who's not happy? All the other owners who now will
have to dig down deeper to shell out more cash for their bench bosses; and remember, there's no salary cap for those boys. Oh yes, one more major sad place, Buffalo. They
thought they would win the "Connor McDavid Sweepstakes" and they didn't. They thought they had Babcock all signed, sealed and delivered and they didn't.
They somehow lost him at the last minute but that shouldn't surprise anybody. Who in their right mind wants to go to Buffalo, the North American equivalent of Russia's "Siberia".
Trivia time, name the two WHL junior teams that Babcock coached for 10 years?
Call them lucky, skilled, clutch or maybe it's fate but whatever you call the Chicago Blackhawks, there's no denying that they win the big games when it counts the most but
they may have met their match in the Anaheim Ducks. They'll have to dig down deep to pull this one out of the fire.
The word quit is not even in their vocabulary and they have earned their reputation over the years as big time performers, much like the Oilers of the '80s and my Islanders of the '70s. On the opposite shoe would be the Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks who enjoy great regular season success but choke in playoffs.
Tampa Bay should have closed out their series with the New York Rangers at home but with the series now reverting back to the Big Apple. I just can't see King Henrik losing a game 7 of a series; he's 15-3 in that department. But then again, for some strange reason, the visiting team is enjoying tremendous success.
The Virden Oilers are off to a great start going 2-0, riding the strong arms of Austin Brereton, Dez Koop, Zane Sawyer and Jeff Peel.
They're in Wawanesa on Wednesday and in Reston on Friday. Their diamond behind Tundra Oil & Gas Place should be ready for their home opener on Monday, June 8 vs Boissevain.
The MSBL (Manitoba Senior Baseball League) has started their 55th season with only four teams in the loop; Brandon Marlins, Brandon Cloverleafs, Neepawa Farmers and the Oak
River Dodgers. They will play a 19-game schedule, playing each other six times, plus each will play Manitoba's youth team once.
Dale Lewis and Graham Freeman played some really fine golf and captured the annual Virden Spring Golf Tournament, followed closely behind by the big hitters Brad Hayward
and Don Nahachewsky.
Trivia answer, the Moose Jaw Warriors and the Spokane Chiefs.
