Jeremy Roenick Calls Mike Babcock's Tactics "Bush League" Following Report | Tim and Sid

Jeremy Roenick joins the show via phone to offer his take on the Mike Babcock story and what he thinks of Alex Kerfoot's two-game suspension.
----------------------------------------------
Subscribe to Sportsnet on KZbin - sprtsnt.ca/2paAT2L
Visit Sportsnet.ca for more sports news and highlights - www.sportsnet.ca
Follow Sportsnet on Facebook - sprtsnt.ca/YTFB
Follow Sportsnet on Twitter - sprtsnt.ca/YTTWTR
Follow Sportsnet on Instagram - sprtsnt.ca/YTINST
Follow Sportsnet on Snapchat - sprtsnt.ca/YTSNAP
Watch Sportsnet on Sportsnet Now - sportsnet.ca/now

[@DJJedinight]

Glad he found time to do the interview in the back of a loading bay

[@szymonmoroniewicz5814]

"Sittin' on the dock of the (loading) bay ..."

[@forrestnorris]

Rob Steele Lmao

[@Rptvrr]

Yeah, I noticed that hahaha. I actually thought it was a TTC bus raising or lowering for seniors.

[@ednunes-vaz6893]

I started to think Babcock was veering onto the wrong path when he kept calling out Jason Spezza in training camp and threatening to cut him. There was no need to try to cut a seasoned pro like Spezza down to size. The ultimate insult was delivered on opening night when as a Toronto boy who had come home, his family showed up to welcome and cheer him on - only to find out that Babcock had made him a healthy scratch. Spezza showed Babcock up thereafter. He’s been one of the Leafs’ best - and most consistent players. Good for Spezza - it’s hard to get yourself motivated when your coach craps on you for no reason.

[@drlca6601]

Leafs fanbase is behind SPEZZA! GLG!

[@strujar7930]

Well said. I was ho-hum on Babcock until the Spezza move and that was all needed to see. Glad he's gone and hope the Leafs can turn this season around.

[@paulhupka8928]

Exactly. Some of my buds were saying it wasn't a big deal cuz spezza wouldn't get big time anymore anyways but that doesn't matter at all. So disrespectful to Spezza who came in TWO MONTHS early to work with the kids. absolute joke

[@khuo0219]

Babcock wanted to show that he was the boss. I guess he felt that he was losing the dressing room and went back to his bag of tricks a la Mike Modano. Anyways, it did not work, and he was fired for low performance.

[@EffinAssNinja]

@@LeafsNation75 Babcock has "his guys" and that's pretty much all there is to it

[@johnkc4775]

For a guy like Roenick, who is as old school and as hard nose a hockey player can be, who has been around the league for decades to call Babcock 'bush league' for doing this says a lot.

[@mattkelly9516]

I agree this is pretty psychotic

[@robins5798]

And he had Keenan in Chicago.

[@johnkc4775]

@@robins5798 good point, just read Theoren Fleury's book 'Playing with Fire' and see his take on Keenan, a first class nut bar as far as Fleury was concerned.

[@mattkelly9516]

@@robins5798 yeah really he can relate

[@johnkc4775]

@E Clouston yeah, same here, JR has always been one of my fave players. He always gave it everything he had.

[@ryanmitchell4266]

Kinda shows why Matthews and Marner wanted Top Dollar to play there. Weren't going to take any discount having to play for Babcock every day. Sure explains why Matthews only wanted 5 years...

[@Paulafan5]

Why would an American take a discount to play in Toronto? Overexposure in the media and the Leafs have a losing culture.

[@nos5822]

@Caп¡z Aпuв¡z Nope.

[@onebuffalo5402]

Your absurdly high taxes also aint helpin you there bud. Only teams w/ higher rates are the California teams, and atleast they got the perks of being beachfront cities in warm weather.

[@BillMorganChannel]

Important point: When you do a phone interview at Home Depot, don't do it in the lumber section......too many forklifts.....

[@edalder2000]

Mike Babcock manipulated Mitch Marner. He was a young guy trying to stick in the NHL and Babcock used a young player to get dirt on other players. Babcock could have created a lot of jealousy and blew up the locker room with that Marner stunt. Mike Commodore was right and it's no wonder that reports that 90% of Leafs players were happy to see Babcock get fired.

[@jennyfortuna9696]

Manipulated?!? Good lord people, you are losing your minds. He asked the kid to make a list, for heaven's sake!

[@cousinpatsey2471]

Jenny Fortuna to make a list of "hey, which of your coworkers do you think are lazy?", which he then used to degrade other players. He manipulated Marner.

[@shan6553]

Jenny Fortuna and if you don’t see that as manipulation you’re a moron.

[@TehKaiser]

Imagine if you boss called you in to write a quick evaluation in which some will look bad of your coworkers, then distributes your opinion to them. Doesn’t matter if it is a 7-Eleven or some high corporate, it’s going to breed discord.

[@madie555]

Very surprised Shanny would let this happen guess he likes the paycheck more.

[@gordonbgraham]

Shanny hired the guy. He also played for him.

[@bobtwo3948]

@@gordonbgraham Only for 1 season though and I recall reading somewhere at the time it was because of Babcock that he wanted to move on to a different team. Seems like he would have been on the lookout for some of his mind games that he likes to employ that ultimately made him leave Detroit.

[@gordonbgraham]

Bob Two Keep in mind he hired him. So, clearly he values him as a coach.

[@sherlyteegs3068]

Shanny and dubas wanted him gone in April , Larry over rode that

[@jennyfortuna9696]

Or maybe Shanny just doesn't magnify a minor thing into a gigantic controversy. Good lord, he asked the kid to make a list. He didn't haze the players or drive through a toll lane while drunk.

[@VindictiveRaider]

Sid is more concerned about the person that leaked it then what Babcock did. 😂

[@gregcushing1716]

Syd the skid is toxic,fake outrage,wondering what it would be like to see how you operate away from the show,such a goof!

[@dennisanderson8663]

Babcock's coaching career is history after someone not named Mike Commodore had the balls to speak out.

[@artystaar]

As a St. Louis guy, I hate to agree with J.R. but I think everything he said is true.

[@goirish2816]

Haha...as a St. Louis guy🤣🤣 That's so douchey. Go Hawks

[@tydance8865]

Michael Robertson cheapshots? Sounds like your teams just weak and doesn’t hit haha

[@tydance8865]

Michael Robertson Bro wtf? The reason we won the cup is because we were knocking players out through clean hits.... we are just a tough team to play against... sorry.. lol

[@brycecaimi7864]

Michael Robertson it’s very common to try and negate someone’s stanley cup victory especially when their team blows chunks so i don’t blame you for hating the winners lol.

[@floydthebarber6249]

What a manipulative eh hole to throw Marner under bus with his teammates

[@leaf16nut]

I mean, Marner could have stood up for himself and not named names, rookie or not, if you're willing to throw people under the bus yourself, why should he not be thrown under the bus too...

[@ericfisher7113]

@@leaf16nutIn theory I think that is true, but I also think it is a pretty easy stance to take from the periphery. He was an 18 year-old rookie at the time. Blatantly disobeying a coach who has as much respect around the league as Babcock when you are trying to stick in the NHL isn't an easy decision to make.

[@judeaberdeen6848]

@@leaf16nut if he says no to Babcock all his minutes are taken away and maybe sent to the minors with the way Babcock is. Marner is a subordinate and to stand up to a coach who had influence like Babcock could potentially cripple a career.

[@07foxmulder]

leaf16nut Ooookay, buddy. I can almost guarantee that every 18 year old put in Marner’s position would’ve done the same thing, including you.

[@schmingusss]

Marner at 18 wasn't a star. He was just another rookie hoping to have a steady job in the NHL. Babcock could easily have ended his career.

[@AllanAlexander]

I always wondered why we never signed any real veterans while Babcock coached my Red Wings, also wonder if Lidstrom or any of them retiring earlier than we thought had anything to do with Bab's

[@khuo0219]

Babcock's tactic was to show the young guys that he can do this to a respected vet like Spezza, imagine what he can do them. It is a tactic to instill fear so that they will toe the line and listen to his commands. It is a demonstration of dominance, albeit a bit cruel. The real target was not Spezza, but others who may not bend to his wishes. Same thing with Modano, Commodore, and to a less extent, Holl. Holl came in (probably at the recommendation of Dubas and Keffe), scores two goals in two games, Babcock scratches him for 70 games. He was saying, performance on the ice comes second to being obedient. This is almost a textbook example of abusive supervision.

[@lakeeriesailor2852]

Mike Keenan did that too...the aging veterans were run under the bus by Keenan, especially Doug Wilson when he was Chicago and Dale Hawerchuk in St Louis.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

For all the younger hockey fans out there, for someone like Roenick to call something "bush league" is like one of the worst criticisms possible. The only way to make it worse is to call Babcock a "goof."

[@Paulafan5]

Roenick's opinion means nothing to me. I really wish they'd stop putting a mic in front of him.

[@jadenippersiel912]

Feeding babs to the crabs

[@Jobother]

One thing that's being lost in the 'why didnt this come out when it happened?!' Discourse is the Leafs GM at the time. Who are you gonna report it to in your organization, Lou Lamiorello?

[@Jobother]

@Dan Smulders I listen to the SDP and I never heard about a gag order. Which episode was it in? (Also how dare you slander Jesse Blake like that)

[@Jobother]

@Dan Smulders my main point is not that I doubt it's been happening, I'm just saying that telling Lou that Babcock hurt your feelings and is emotionally manipulative probly isn't going to go anywhere.

[@dudeswheresmakar8394]

Thank you Jeremy.. completely right. 10..15..20 game suspension for that bullshit. On a former team mate as well... I was at that game and he got the boo's he deserved but certainly not the suspension.

[@waynejohanson1083]

Love J.R. Should be in the hall of fame.

[@stevebator3138]

Im tired of the old boys like Babcock and NHL who think they're untouchables. Good the truth is coming out.Despicable . Dies not deserve to coach again at any level.

[@jsimonfabien]

yeah! IMO it's was GREAT to listen to an interview with a dude in a submarine

[@erikjohnson3434]

Its been said he did the same thing in Detroit.

[@austing.8870]

erik johnson My guess is that it was with either Filppula or Nyquist. Those two refuse to play for Babcock.

[@davidkruse4030]

@@austing.8870 nyquist? source please.

[@Paulafan5]

If it works...

[@garrickmusic]

Never been a JR fan, but I was with him up until the suspension talk. Bortuzzo should have got the 15-20 games. It was absolute intent to injure after a guy is down, and not even remotely a hockey play. Also he almost put Arvidson's face into the crossbar on the first cross-check and he's now out at least 4 to 6 weeks with injury. Bortuzzo had been suspended twice before for the same freaking thing so how that isn't a minimum of 10 games let alone 20 I'll never know. He's been a healthy scratch more than half the games this season so it's really only a 2 game suspension at best. Rediculous. Kerfoot had no previous suspensions or history of wrongdoing. You could see he showed immediate concern for Johnson after he hit the boards there was absolutely no intent to injure just a bad choice on his part, It happened in the second period and Johnson still played 20 minutes in the game. The consequences resulting from the infraction should mean something. JR is sooooooo wrong on this one it's not even funny.

[@MrSoLiDIcEplays]

intent does not matter

[@garrickmusic]

@@MrSoLiDIcEplays in which case? Do you mean the lack of intent on Kerfoot's part?

[@codynivea6245]

The Kerfoot penalty looked really bad. I agree that at least five games suspended should be handed out.

[@garrickmusic]

Cody Nivea I guess I’m the only person in the world who thinks Bertuzzo’s looked much worse? One victim of a guy with previous Suspensions for the exact same infraction left the game and is out for four to six weeks And possibly longer and may have a recurring injury for life hit in a prone position out of the play And then to literally add insult to injury the goalie has the nerve to stab victim in the back with his stick when victim finally gets to his feet as well??? ... After the whistle.???? The other victim of a first time offender (Who immediately shows concern for the guy) gets up within a minute and plays a regular shift for the rest of the game. If you think that Kerfoot deserves five games then how On this green earth does Bertuzzo not deserve 20 games? I guess I just see it differently, and it’s not like I dislike St. Louis in fact I was happy they were the winning team in the finals. nor have I ever given Bertuzzo much Of a thought to like or dislike him before. But you look at footage of his previous infractions And you see a guy Who didn’t learn from his last suspensions… So how is he going to learn a lesson from four games off when he was Probably going to be a healthy scratch for two of them anyways? Just sayin’.

[@mrmccheesenugget]

@@MrSoLiDIcEplays intent to injure does matter, which is what bortozzo was clearly trying to do. Kerfoot on the other hand made a careless hit that resulted in johnson going into the boards. Intent does matter

[@domwings4329]

Chelios and Roenick now against Babcock. Guy must be a real ***hole

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

These guys played together under Mike Keenan too..

[@bluebint]

The camera set up is bush league why is it so off centre

[@breakaway2x]

Shout outs to all beeps in the world that go on in the background of interviews.

[@dub16100]

Roenick airing his opinion publicly. What a phenomenon!

[@jordan-sp4db]

What’s with sound

[@eddiek4301]

There where a lot of "Bush league" thing Babcock did like that that line one and line two Power play crap he did last season.

[@thugmouth5251]

eddie k wtf does this even say?

[@orionhunt7011]

Why isn’t the Marchand cross check on Bordin getting any suspension love?

[@Leafsdude]

I'll give you 3 guesses, and they all start with "because it's Marchand".

[@greathuman7723]

bruins get away with one early...

[@Asmahdan]

Oh I am sure by now everyone understand that the NHL does not suspend a Bruin unless they absolutely have too

[@198634]

Asmahdan or a penguin ....

[@powergi3996]

Jeremy Roenick should be on the player safety team.

[@garrickmusic]

Why? So he can get both decisions wrong? At least the safety committee only got one decision wrong, Bortuzzo's. THAT is where the 15 to 20 games should be. And I'm from thunder Bay and had a mild respect for Bortuzzo... Before seeing this! And now learning about his previous suspensions for the same damn thing.

[@futuresequence.]

Torts hasn't calmed down. He is the master of motivation. He uses fear and conflict to coach, but doesn't seem to do so in a way that makes players hate him. Sounds like Babcock is just an ahole, players know Torts would kill for them.

[@whyimsmarterthanyou]

Guys like Roenick always bristle when authority holds them to account. Pushing a rookie to recognize the difference between hard work and a player not getting the most out of their talent is not the crime people are pretending right now.

[@mickegee364]

Babcock is not a great coach. I wish people would stop saying this. Good yes. Great NO! Any team Babcock had any success with was already made for him or was nearly complete. Any rebuilds Babcock was involved in, tanked.

[@jewcanboy]

He always wins, that’s what makes a good coach. No matter what team you have

[@jeremybaumgartner5423]

Joseph S Hunter All those years of top seeds and Presidents Trophy and only could win one cup. Should have been 4 or 5, but his ego seemed to always get in the way

[@davidralph7325]

I think when Dubas arrived he heard these stories and he put a target on Babcock's back looking for the right moment to get rid of him. Shanahan knew this was going on but he brought Mike in a didn't want to deal with it until the performance of the team warranted his firing.

[@drumagus2258]

Babcock didn’t want to draft Marner, he was mad they didn’t get him a 6ft + defensemen.

[@robertlongwill8856]

I am a Toronto Maple Leafs fan and I was pissed off when they drafted Mitch Marner. I believe that was the same draft Ivan provorov was drafted 7th overall. That is exactly who they should have drafted they needed defenseman just like him. But I'm not defending Babcock by any stretch I've heard horror stories like this for years by various people about Mike Babcock

[@Bobandy420]

Jesus JR you made millions. Buy some freakin airpods

[@kenh5317]

Detroit players went to Kenny Holland regarding Babcock and it went nowhere.

[@ettrickdoo7287]

Nylander, Matthews, Marner, -- that is the core of dissent with Babcock ... add in Kappy and other Marlies and you see the players revolted on Babcock.

[@FLSTF-us4df]

Hay guys, how about this one, who do you think leaked out the Mitch and Badcock’s list ? How about this, forget about it being Tyler Bozak, he was third on the list and he has a Cup Ring.lol. Kadri is a London Ontario home boy, played for the London Nights, his parents have a Automotive Shop here in London, it’s only a two hour drive, from London to Toronto. Kadri played for the Leafs for ten years, know more father son game night, he also thought that management should of told him he was getting traded in person, all that is gone. Love my Leafs!! Just saying. Luis

[@shawnthompson2303]

I STILL LOVE YOU, JR!!! Best player who almost but never did play for the Flames. Man, I wish he never got the call from Gretzky.

[@PotSmokeGuy]

Is Roenick taking the phone call from a construction zone?

[@frankderudder7290]

Was never a big fan of babcock and after hearing this like green day song GOOD riddance good bye!!

[@Hockeyhobo89]

FRANK De Rudder I feel like that about Kadri. Everyone loved him but I was never a huge fan. After both Suspensions, Goodbye!

[@chudyrobert4788]

the most bush league thing in this segment is the construction beeping. c'mon dude

[@cartercopeland6549]

Roenick lost a lot of my respect when he said Kerfoot should get 10-15 games.. It was CLEAR that he didn't intend to do that to his old buddy in Colorado, and if you look closely at the play, Johnson was turning at the exact moment he got pushed, so he lost an edge. Don't have any problem with the 2 game suspension, but 15?! come on!

[@jimieljoseph2322]

If I was Mitch's dad I'd give Mike a black eye, without hesitation.👊

[@gazingatmars]

It's no wonder he was so outspoken during the negotiations. Probably tasting blood biting his tongue.

You’d think the Bloor Street Bitches at Sportsnet would move on.

[@Asmahdan]

Roenick apparently is not good with judging distance. Kerfoot did not hit the guy 2 or 3 feet from the boards... contact was made near the goal line, 11 feet from the boards. Even if you argue that contact was made after the goal line, at best that would make it 9 feet from the boards. A 2 game suspension, or even a 4 game suspension would have been fine. But a 10 to 15 game suspension?? IS Roenick being an idiot?? Don't answer, that was rhetorical, of course he is. Kerfoot has no history of dirty play or suspensions. Immediately after the hit Kerfoot show obvious concern for the injured player and apologized to Him after the game. Now let's look at the Bortuzzo play, Roenick says He is a big fan of Bortuzzo and does not want to talk down about him when asked if he is ok with the 4 game suspension He got. In fact Roenick never actually gives an answer to the question, just hums and haws about it then changes the subject to Kerfoot. Here it is, an intentional hit from behind sending a player face first into the the cross bar, he whines and bitches at the ref for getting a penalty for it, then a second and even more intentional cross check to a vulnerable and defenceless player. Bortuzzo is the one that should have got 10 to 15 game suspension for not only his behaviour, but he does have a history of dirty play, suspensions and fines. I can admit I was never a fan of Roenick back in the day, but I respected him as a player... over the years since his retirement, i have lost a little bit of respect for him little by little, after this interview, I cannot honestly say I have any left for him.

[@timlee1794]

I was on board with everything Roenick was saying until he got to Kerfoot...

[@beardupbeerdown7355]

Wtf is Binnington doing? Refs are effed.

[@terrydizzydude4087]

Well, as of today...Roenick's comments seem to have aged well.

[@greenfinger8690]

Roenick calling from the Keg

[@watcher6935]

It's not about youth for coaching. Being a bully comes from any age, sex, race and religions. Oilers don't have youth coaching and look what he's accomplished there. A bully is an ego and a self confidence thing. Mike probably isn't as self confident as people think.

[@user-zd3jd2xy1r]

& roenick knows all about being bush league!

[@Robert-bv7of]

I guess everyone is entitled to an opinion, but there's different motivational methods. Never a Babcock fan myself but, I'm sure Babcock is not the only coach to have a tough stance.

[@mrbill4187]

Babcock should be paying Nick lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Zeterberg. They are the reason he got a cup and a fat contract with the leafs

[@jmorrow6406]

Bortuzzo is a POS for that play. Should be more, second cross-check was with intent to hurt.

[@danielmurphy3058]

Putting such heavy burden on a 19 year old, is morbid. He is just a kid. He wants to play the game that he loves. All these innuendo that this young kid must be your sidesnitch is wrong. I hope that he understands now how wrong was of him to do that.

[@mode1charlie170]

Mitch should have made it clear when he passed the "list" over to babcock. These are the hardest working players on my team (lists the entire team) and they are in no particular order......

[@ronbonora7872]

The coach should know himself who is working or not. Why does he need Marner to tell him.

[@mode1charlie170]

Ron Bonora it was meant as a half assed answer to a half assed assignment.

[@TheStallionforce]

Sounds like something Tikhonov would've done!

[@basilmcdonnell9807]

Tik would have punched him in the stomach. Like he punched Larianov after a shift he considered beneath his expectations.

[@lakeeriesailor2852]

Keenan did that with almost every team he coached, especially the Rangers and St Louis.

[@checubanil7385]

If Babcock wanted to motivate young rookie he shoulda done what JR did with Seto and Mitchell. Taken Mitch to a big crazy party in the mansion, pretend to die and have Mitch jump thru the closed window to safety like Mitchell did

[@gamingggaming]

if the story is true. gm should be fired for not firing babs sooner

[@red3here]

nah.

[@Paulafan5]

The real question is: did the Leafs quit on Babcock or are they really a bunch of overpaid kids who won't live up to their contracts? Either option makes them look bad. Yes, if the Leafs didn't throw money at them someone else would, but that doesn't mean they are worth it in the long run. And what happened was ages ago. Had nothing to do with what the Leafs are currently doing.

[@Michael-pg7rv]

Both those suspensions should have been more. I think Kerfoot should have gotten 5-6 and I'm a Leafs fan

[@stephencook1004]

Shut up, based on what? Clearly not based on precedents set by league over the years. Even 2 is a lot based on what other suspensions.

[@codynivea6245]

@@stephencook1004 Umm, based on actually looking at what he did. If he murdered someone, it's not okay, even if he is wearing a Leafs jersey.

[@red3here]

no lol.

[@joer8854]

@@codynivea6245 Bill Masterton is the only player to die of injuries sustained on the ice and it wasn't a hit like that. He gave a player that was unbalanced a tap, not ok and deserves the two games but it's the only one of the recent suspensions that's the proper punishment. Marchaund landed a full on hit without there being puck possession into the boards but that's perfectly fine though.

[@u2ooby]

Foegele on Oshie in last year's playoffs....Oshie broken collarbone....no suspension...welcome to the NHL!

[@MapleLeafs96]

The Babcock segment was good..the rest of it was bs. He basicly stated that Bortuzzo’s hit isn’t that bad as Kerfoot’s hit which is ridiculous. Kerfoot’s hit was a dangerous one but Bortuzzo’s cheap shot just isn’t a honest play lol

[@filop4367]

20 games for Bortuzzo and 10 for Binnington...

[@andyp2971]

I absolutely agree with you!! How the hell he only got four games is beyond me?! If he thinks kerfoot deserve 10 games then Bortuzzo deserve 20 games as a repeat offender in the dirtiest player in the game. Honest player my left nut!!

[@andyp2971]

And wtf was with Binnington cross checking him after that?? Dirty little weasel!!

[@andyp2971]

And as for Kerfoots cross check. The guy kinda lost an edge. Anchor food is not a repeat offender and not a dirty player at all.

[@psychodadjesse]

Can I ask if everyone knew about the situation why couldn’t they tell the GM like the roster telling the Gm what Babcock did?

[@APisceanSlant]

Can you see Marner, or any other Leafs player, going to Lou? Come on

[@rjmurray8136]

at the time, the GM was Lou... Marner and Lou were at odds over Marners rookie bonuses (or lackthereof i should say) so i can't see him trusting Lou to do anything other than try to trade the kid and he really wants to be a Leaf. bad situation for a vet coach to put any player in.

[@psychodadjesse]

APisceanSlant lol I mean

[@psychodadjesse]

Rj Murray fair enough

[@psychodadjesse]

VengfulDeathCow lmaoooooo

[@TyrannosaurusThunder]

I hope this puts all teams thinking of signing Mike Babpenis on notice that this is the type of behaviour they can expect.

[@coltukkor]

Kerfoot deserved a suspension for careless play but in his defence Johnson was not crouched over and “vulnerable” when he first initiated contact.Its a split second game. That Bortuzzo crosscheck was “bush league” .That was gutless.Theres clear intent there.As for suspension lengths.They are almost never harsh enough.IMO suspensions should always start with a 5 and go from there.Repeat offenders within a set period of time start with 10.If you think these numbers are too harsh.Ask yourself what the point of a suspension is.Its supposed to be a deterrent.A slap on the wrist never works.This league can be an utter joke sometimes.

[@jarrettirwin8922]

Well good thing Roenick isnt the one handing out suspensions

[@jmorrow6406]

WTF JR? 10-15 For the boarding but slamming down on someone AFTER almost smashing their face into the crossbar doesn't deserve more? Get outta here.

[@quentin7408]

J.R needs an office, get outta the bull pen. way to much back round noise. But when a player of his caliber/standing says bush league more people will pay attention and rightfully so.

[@jennyfortuna9696]

Of his caliber? JR has always been second fiddle and he knows it. He just jumps in to offer an emotional take when he sees the opportunity. Same with that utter scumbag Ray Ferraro.

[@TheCokee47]

As a Leafs fan, Kerfoot should definitely have received more games then 2. That's the worst type of play in all of hockey and a message needs to be sent. He wouldn't be playing until the new year in 2020 if that was my job

[@starcraft1980]

J.R. Coming from experience it’s face value

[@MoveInSilence23]

Then JR gets suspended... 🤔

[@HabsCanada1]

LOL @ Toronto.

[@red3here]

lol at you.

[@ianmackie8161]

Babcock's time has come and gone. Imo he cannot think quick enough for today's game. Cheers GLG.

[@Otis1194]

As a 25 year old junior football coach with only couple years experience, you enjoy and appreciate hard coaches who are tough on the team, however you DO NOT ever want the coach who belittles and revels in creating chaos for his own sick way of coaching and that is very different. That is what this is, trying to turn players on each other for no reason

[@steventrumble7098]

15 - 20 games for the kerfoot boarding? did he see it?

[@love_tacos]

Busch league.... as in Busch beer

[@jaysnizzle9189]

That Kerfoot hit is the dirtiest, gutless play in the game. You tell em JR!

[@keithhinchcliffe5629]

Poorly edited clip; 3 minutes in and I have no idea what they're talking about, or what Babcock said or did to Marner ... I'm out.

[@seamuslewin4325]

Roenick must be hungover, he can’t get a sentence out without fumbling it.

[@TylerMorganShow]

Jr rules

[@lakeeriesailor2852]

well based on what I've read, Mike Keenan was a lot worse than Babcock. In St Louis, he'd move players around the dressing room based on some sort of pecking order, he'd pull the goalie for no reason at all, and got rid of players who were involved in charity work in the community claiming "they undermined his authority".

[@skyehorvath9063]

Stop shifting the goalposts. The issue here is Babcock, not Keenan, or Vince Lombardi. Got it?

[@seasonstudios]

Again, it would be gutless if what you were saying wasn't based on any truth, only a sookie feeling because you were benched for good reason but if you really want to play for the team and a coach feels he can bully you with the ownership's blessing, then you just may find yourself benched, traded or sent down. No player can be secure in knowing that their gripes will be taken seriously. A player should have this as at least one mantra; If a team can trade away Gretzky, then ANYTHING is possible.

[@shawnsteinberg2413]

15-20 games come on now.

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

Bortuzzo has been one of the worst goons in the league for years.

[@raze5346]

This is so dumb.. only in Toronto they would make a big deal about nothing... happend 4 years ago move on lol.. Marner doesnt even care

[@Reefiemon]

If Marner was not "gutless" and he brought this to someone's attention, I guarantee he wouldn't have been a member of the Leafs right now. Those who hold power are hard to dissect when they hold it.

[@dhennessey1970]

Babcock's coaching career will be over if Toronto breaks out of their tailspin and goes a couple of rounds in the playoffs.

[@johngilmour8945]

How Many Stanley Cups has Roenick Won???

[@Feedback4Utoday]

Babscock is very powerful. In fact whole group has been strong & proud. They will not allow media to criticize their man. Wait for their rebuttal. Have been at top of league for 3 years !! Babscock is beauty

[@Jo-zt2wb]

"He's a team player." Oh yeah, asking for 10.8 Million, when in reality, doesn't even deserve 9, is definitely a team player. In no universe, does this guy deserve to get paid nearly a Million more than Jack Eichel. "Team player", you wish.

[@michaeldearby3945]

Jo I agree he’s overpaid but Eichel is an odd comparable. Eichels career high is 82 points. Marner already has a 94 point season and when healthy can easily hit 100. Eichel is on a good pace this year but hindsight is 20/20

[@justth4tdope813]

Jack eichel is trash n mitch is worth every penny . Just love to hate the leafs.

[@MarkySauce]

Maybe the reason why Marner and others didn’t take team-friendly deals was because they wanted all the money because of Babcock doing sadistic crap like this

[@Jo-zt2wb]

@@michaeldearby3945 yes, but you gotta also take in consideration though, that one of them plays with the likes of Matthews and Tavares. Who does Eichel play with? Jeff Skinner and Sam Reinhart. Eichel has put up great numbers in Buffalo......BUFFALO. Only now, they're starting to pick up as a team.

[@tristinmoo2414]

Alex Langley Jack Eichel is not trash in any sense of that word. Marner and Eichel are great but Eichel is far better than Mitch. He wears the C for his team and is the best player on his team, and is actually worth every penny. Marner hit a 94-point season but won’t replicate that. From an outside perspective he is not worth the money he is worth at all. He’s above average. Eichel is elite and I’m far from a Sabres fan.

[@ChrisNS17]

Anyone else hear a truck backing up everytime JR speaks?

[@detroittigers1282]

No offense Jeremy Roenick but I don't see his name on a Stanley Cup, Babs is a Stanley Cup, Gold Medal winning coach and future Hall of Famer. I just think society is soft today, clearly what he does works, it's like the people that hated Bob Knight. I wish my Red Wings would fire Jeff Blashill and bring Babs back home.

[@andeluuu]

As much as I didn't agree with Babcock, Marner isn't some peewee AAA player. This is the NHL.

[@gazingatmars]

What is that skreeching in the background? Can't you put this audio through a filter or something? Almost impossible to listen.

[@appletile2887]

Babcock=Icehole.....enough said!!!

[@shanewhaler]

my 2 cents on the situation not coming out right away. to me Mitch Marner and others were and are victims of domestic violence abuse. you cant blame the victim for wanting to be safe. any blame being put on the victim is wrong!!!!!! I honestly lost a little bit of respect for Jeremy Roenick. at some point the cycle must stop