Not Quite OT - Dallas Stars coach Jim Montgomery fired for "Material Act of Unprofessionalism"
December 10th, 2019 at 1:33 PM ^
Interested to see what the act in question was
December 10th, 2019 at 1:45 PM ^
You have to admire Montgomery's hustle, but he has a lot of work to do to catch up with Dave Bliss.
December 10th, 2019 at 5:04 PM ^
thanks, dunno why the hyper link didn't take when i originally posted it
December 10th, 2019 at 4:17 PM ^
Jesus, virtually every single thing that happens during a hockey game, in the locker room, and around the team, is a "material act of unprofessionalism".
December 10th, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
10 bucks says he showed up to work drunk. Just a guess
December 10th, 2019 at 1:37 PM ^
What the hell is going on with NHL coaches right now?
December 10th, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
Or just what the hell is the matter with knee-jerk reaction society now?
If this is the first instance, I'm inclined to not go all Nancy Grace on the guy and judge him in the media without any facts. If the guy just needs some help, then I hope he can get it without being put through the wringer professionally.
There used to be a time where employers would help one out with shit like this. I guess not anymore. One strike and you're gone -- or even the appearance of one strike, and one can be gone as well these days.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
You can take a swing at the first bad pitch you see and pop out too.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:47 PM ^
With shit like what? You're making as many assumptions as you're accusing the [Stars and other undefined damned organizations exclamation mark] of making, with--from what we've got here--zero idea of what took place. Given how much money organizations usually have tied up in contracts, my assumption would be that they DO consider matters carefully before firing one.
I'm surprised you're not complaining about all the protections the gubmint affords employees FROM firing anyone.
Instead of the knee-jerk bipolar horse twaddle we get from both sides nowadays, it would be really cool if people judged issues like this on the merits. We don't know the merits.
December 10th, 2019 at 4:06 PM ^
from what we've got here--zero idea of what took place
Yes, that's why I'm not making assumptions. Your ire is misplaced.
This morning half the posts were suggestions of messing around with women, then it comes out it was substance abuse instead.
I have zero idea if Montgomery has a track record of substance abuse or not. But since it's the first most people have heard of it, I would hope they would have some kind of compassion towards they guy. I'm not going to make fun of a guy with a substance abuse problem and I hope those around him, professionally and personally rally around the dude.
December 10th, 2019 at 7:06 PM ^
Okay, still don't quite get it, but I appreciate your taking the time to explain.
December 10th, 2019 at 1:40 PM ^
I believe at one point there was a campaign/hope that Mike Babcock would be the next coach as well. Thanking God for unanswered prayers?
December 10th, 2019 at 1:58 PM ^
I’m pretty sure the Babcock to Michigan rumor was total fiction. The rumor arose because his daughter was going to go to Michigan, he was friendly with Red Berenson, and Babcock jokingly said maybe he would be Red Berenson’s assistant coach for a year.
There’s just such a massive gulf in pay between the NHL and college hockey that it’s unrealistic, it’s not like football where it’s pretty close. Babcock was making $6.25 million a year with the Leafs, whereas Michigan pays Mel Pearson $400,000 a year.
December 10th, 2019 at 2:36 PM ^
So one guy, who was soft (pre-concussion... I'm definitely not making fun of that) comes out in the media (like a coward) and says Babcock is the worst person ever.
Mmmmkay.
Now the rest of the world latches on to that and Babcock's reputation is shit? I don't buy that for a second and if the shoe was on the other foot, anyone critical of Babs right now wouldn't like the accusations either!!!
There used to be another coach, Scotty Bowman, who players said you hated him 364 days of the year and on that last day, you picked up your Stanley Cup ring. My how times, err, entitlements have changed.
Fuck Franzen. Babcock has won every major championship at every level in his entire sport.
December 10th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
I have no dog in this fight, but it’s more than Franzen. More stuff is coming out on Babcock. It appears that, at best, one syllable of his last name was very accurate.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:05 PM ^
Guy’s a real bab if you know what I’m sayin.’
December 10th, 2019 at 3:14 PM ^
Ok Boomer. You maaaaaay want to do some research before giving your two cents. Not just one guy:
- Mitch Marner
- Mike Commodore
- Carlo Colaiacovo
- Chris Chelios
- Johan Franzen
- Darren McCarty
...And to further fact check:
"Fuck Franzen. Babcock has won every major championship at every level in his entire sport."
From 1991 until today, he's coached at three different levels (CHL, AHL, and NHL), with one championship to show for it. And I'd argue the Red Wings won in 2008 DESPITE Babcock, not because of him.
When we have all these accounts of him manipulating players and treating others like garbage (players, rink personnel, press, etc.), there's truth to it. Babcock himself has admitted to some of these allegations (Marner). And it's not like these rumors have come out of nowhere; they've been circulating throughout his time in Detroit. We've also come to find out that what he did to Marner, he also did to a rookie in Detroit. Hope he learns from his mistakes and betters himself, but glad he's finally being called out.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
I have to assume he is referring to Olympic Gold, World Championship, and World Junior Championship along with the Stanley Cup. The record there is impressive...which has nothing to do with the conversation at hand about his character and tactics.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:27 PM ^
Ah. Fair point fair point.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:58 PM ^
You lost all credibility at "ok boomer".
Which is twice as laughable as I'm not even a boomer.
Additionally, your research on his coaching stops and championships won is incomplete.
December 10th, 2019 at 5:10 PM ^
I definitely heard some rumblings that the players never liked Babcock, and won in spite of him. Not exactly from what I would consider credible sources, but it was always out there. This story really gained some legs for me when Chelios and McCarty confirmed. Those are two pretty tough players. I would be curios to hear what Lidstrom and Zetterberg have to say about him, but I am guessing it isn't very flattering.
I think one of the biggest asshole things Babcock ever did was healthy scratch Mike Madano every game for an entire season so he never played his 1500th career game. That's a total shit move.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
I don't know about the guy being soft; he averaged a point per game player in the playoffs most of his career. But Chelios would never be considered soft and he stuck up for Franzen. He also played for both coaches, so he could speak well about both men.
Either way, Babcock wouldn't have his lone Stanley Cup win without Franzen.
December 10th, 2019 at 4:02 PM ^
Franzen basically had one monster playoff year and the Wings fired the money cannon at him. Then there was only room for one between him and Hossa. His stats weren't as great after that.
December 11th, 2019 at 8:38 AM ^
Hossa > Franzen but that was Holland's fault, like so many of his other bad FA decisions. He was always going to need talent around him in order to put up big numbers and Holland made a huge miscalculation. Still, until 2011 or 2012, Franzen averaged 1ppg in the playoffs which is not bad.
December 10th, 2019 at 3:31 PM ^
Chris Chelios has come out and agreed with Franzen. Not sure anyone would label Chelios as soft
December 10th, 2019 at 3:59 PM ^
Chelli is hardly the paragon of good judgment or maturity though. Don't confuse hardass on the ice with genius off it. "Soft" is a misguided adjective for the issue at hand.
Not saying I disagree with Mule's point of view -- in fact, I have very strong secondhand confirmation of Babcock's issues (close friend played for him for years in the NHL). Just saying Chelli lipping off on some podcast about it isn't in the same ballpark as someone levelheaded like Lidstrom or Gretzky saying that.
December 10th, 2019 at 4:10 PM ^
Same goes for the poster citing Commodore and McCarty. LOL.
December 10th, 2019 at 4:11 PM ^
There is a growing list of players recounting tales of babcock..... there's more than smoke.
recall when Bobby Knight was fired at Ind? the majority of his former players were supporting him, there isn't a pile of former players coming to Bab's defense.
December 10th, 2019 at 4:28 PM ^
I don’t know what hockey you were watching, but Franzen was never soft. The dude was nicknamed “Mule” because of how tough he was to stop or move off his spot. He carried the Wings to their Cup in 2008. He broke a Howe scoring record for a series in 5 games and showed flashes in the years leading up to that. Injury prone, maybe...but soft ain’t it.
December 10th, 2019 at 5:01 PM ^
Yeah this one has reached a critical mass, and did so quickly. I also talk to Red Wings bloggers often and they had heard rumors that when recast in light of Franzen's revelations made it all very believable. It would be nice if our last championship coach wasn't abusive to players, but the evidence says otherwise.
I don't understand the kneejerk reaction to defend him. Does it diminish your Red Wings fandom?
December 10th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
Interestingly, Bill Peters, former Flames coach (and acquaintance of mine because ours wives are friends) was recently fired, in part, because of abusive behavior against players. He was an assistant coach to Babcock in Spokane and Detroit.
December 10th, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^
They've already said no criminal investigation is forthcoming, and that no other team employees were involved.
So I guess he banged the owner's wife or daughter?
December 10th, 2019 at 1:48 PM ^
Or forgot to move the Christmas elf in the locker room.
December 10th, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
Maybe a threesome. Talk about a power play...
December 10th, 2019 at 2:04 PM ^
That was the old rumor about why Ted Nolan got canned in Buffalo in the mid 90's.
December 10th, 2019 at 1:47 PM ^
Boy talk about a tough one to explain to the wife.
"Honey it's honestly not nearly as bad as it looks. You see it all started innocently enough but then....."
December 10th, 2019 at 1:48 PM ^
If that's the standard I should be fired like three times per day.
December 10th, 2019 at 1:51 PM ^
That's why I only commit conceptual acts of unprofessionalism. Easier to cover your tracks that way.
December 10th, 2019 at 2:27 PM ^
For discussion purposes only, eh?
December 10th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
Can someone be a professional at unprofessionalism?
December 10th, 2019 at 1:55 PM ^
Takes a lot of really lazy work and a complete absence of dedication, but yes it can be done.
December 10th, 2019 at 2:28 PM ^
Yes.
It's called DoD contracting.
December 10th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
Sounds like he was drinking on the job...
December 10th, 2019 at 2:03 PM ^
If it is, wouldn't the NHL be obligated, under their substance abuse policy, to offer treatment being placed on leave for his current role?
December 10th, 2019 at 2:09 PM ^
I would assume there are different rules for coaches than for players, but interesting question.
December 10th, 2019 at 2:12 PM ^
Depends on the extent. If he showed up to practice with liquor on his breath, probably. If he played grab-ass in the postgame scrum, that's an immediate termination.
December 10th, 2019 at 2:29 PM ^
Is that in the CBA or is it NHL policy? If CBA, he's SOL as that's for players. Coaches are management.
December 10th, 2019 at 2:05 PM ^
I’ve been to Finland but their language is difficult...I got nothing
December 10th, 2019 at 2:15 PM ^
I heard from my source that Jim Montogery's firing in Dallas was related to alcohol use and subsequent misconduct.