Red Wings’ Feathers Not Ruffled by Mike Babcock’s Departure
By Joe Chapp
Mike Babcock was the story line for the Detroit Red Wings in the 2015 off-season, One Stanley Cup, Two gold medals and 10 straight playoff appearances is what Babcock has on his resume.
There was zero doubt Babcock was going to get paid, but by who?
The Detroit Red Wings were not going to get in a biding war for their coach, so when Mike Babcock was rumored to go in Buffalo that looked like the likely landing spot for the former Red Wings Head Coach.
The common misconception is that Babcock made the Red Wings, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Red Wings gave Babcock some pretty good teams, two with which he went to the finals with and won a Stanley Cup with one. Detroit’s fans have high expectations that can’t always be met, but with Babcock the last few years have been average.
Has it been all on Babcock? Of course not.
The last few years have been a transition, but Ken Holland says the Red Wings are looking to compete for a Stanley Cup this upcoming season.
Babcock said that he wanted to win and do what’s best for his family.
May 20th hit, which was Babcock’s decision day and it started out between Buffalo and Detroit. Two teams, one coach.
The Wings were not going to out-bid Terry Pegula even with Mike Ilitch being insanely rich, he didn’t believe paying a coach the amount that the desperate Buffalo Sabres were willing to pay.
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It was presumed that Buffalo was the front-runner. Buffalo is a rebuild job, even with getting Jack Eichel the Sabres are a long way from competing at a high level, Babcock’s motive was to win.
It didn’t make sense for Babcock to take on something he’s never experienced.
Babcock has never taken over a rebuild in the NHL, Anaheim and Detroit where teams that he glided into knowing that they can compete at a high level. In the afternoon we learned that Mike Babcock wasn’t heading to Detroit or Buffalo, he was heading to Toronto. Toronto is another desperate team, they’re a team that was clinging for something to hold on to. After all, they couldn’t even tank for McDavid the right way.
Toronto getting Babcock is a big splash, will it work it out? That’s for the future to decide, but the hefty pay-day Babcock is getting is more than enough.
Toronto landed Babcock on massive contract as Bob McKenzie detailed.
Babcock will fly from DET to TOR tomorrow a.m. Contract is 8 yrs, $50 miilion total value. There is no out clause. His title is Head Coach.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 20, 2015
TSN StatsCentre detailed how much the ex-Red Wings head coach would make compared to other NHL players.
In cumulative money, $50M deal for Babcock bettered by existing contracts of just 31 NHLers. Only 15 involve longer terms than his 8 years
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) May 20, 2015
To put into perspective on Babcock’s new deal with Toronto he’ll make more than Kronwall, Franzen and Datsyuk on their respective deals.
What’s Next For Detroit?
The leading candidate in many minds is Jeff Blashill, even Ken Holland said the first person he’ll speak with is Jeff Blashill
"“I owe it to Blashill, this organization has his fingerprints all over it, I owe it to him to speak with him first.”, said Ken Holland."
Blashill has won a Calder Cup with the Detroit Red Wings farm team, Grand Rapids and has advanced to the Western Conference Finals where he awaits his opponent.
Ken Holland said, “I’ll find out the schedule tonight, and go from there”
The Wings future is looking bright, even with Babcock walking out the door. Blashill has coached a lot of the “Kids” in the Red Wings lineup, and won a Calder Cup with them.
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To say the Red Wings will take a step back in 2015, seems like you may be jumping the gun a bit.
Detroit will be a lot better, more experience with the young guns. Holland saying, “We can compete for a Cup in 15-16.”
Detroit overcame the retirement of Scotty Bowman and Mike Babcock will be no different, for what people say Detroit’s farm team is one of the highly regarded farm systems in the NHL.
With prospects like Temmu Pulkkinen, Dylan Larkin, and Anthony Mantha, the Red Wings job is one of the most attractive jobs in the NHL, but most believe the job will be filled within the organization.
The Detroit Red Wings might be better off with a change in voice, after all if there’s any team that has earned that right in the last 20 years it’s the Red Wings.
Mike Babcock coached Detroit for 10 years, but all coaches have a shelf life and that shelf life reached its max in Detroit.
Next: See what Ken Holland had to say at today's presser