Detroit Red Wings: Why Does It Feel So Good to Root against Babcock?

Coach Mike Babcock left Detroit just as the Detroit Red Wings began cashing out the last blue-chip Datsyuks and Zetterbergs, just as their talent bankruptcy within the looming rebuild was woefully revealed.

The Cup-starved Toronto Maple Leafs wooed Mike Babcock after many lean years of playoff exile. Lofty primo draft picks such as Nazem Kadri, Morgan Reilly, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, and William Nylander held brimming promise. Detroit Red Wings fans, like most, don’t appreciate fair weather, front-runner types. But Babcock’s mercenary move to Toronto wasn’t much different from Scotty Bowman’s move to the Chicago Blackhawks before their Toews-Kane run of three Stanley Cups.

So what is it about Babcock’s will and way that leaves a bad taste in the mouth of Detroit Red Wings fans? We might imagine more fondness for this former Wing coach–with more victories than any other.

Looking for explanations, we start with Henrik Zetterberg. Z is like the tagline in the old EF Hutton commercials: “When Hank Zetterberg speaks, people listen.” The integrity of his Red Wing DNA is unassailable. Henrik is beloved, even revered. A quiet man, his muted tones resound as he speaks.

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When Zetterberg labels his former coach Babcock as “difficult,” much more underlies the remark. There was no pining of tender regret from Hank at Babcock’s exit. Only an exhale to send him on his way, “it was time.” What Z articulates in these remarks is overwhelmed by what is left unsaid.

Chris Chelios was a stand-up truth-teller in Montreal, Chicago, and Detroit. Chelios claims even Detroit-inclined veteran free agents, like Ryan Suter, were wary of coming, because of Babcock. Why was this the case? In Babcock’s case, seeming toughness was really intransigent arrogance.

Chelios, an NHL veteran who helped the Detroit Red Wings win two Cups, insisted he wanted to stay in Detroit. He tried to win Babcock’s heart to re-sign and play him. No way. Babcock would not consider the warrior Chelios. Don’t forget, Babcock preferred veterans over prospects. What is that all about?

Regarding Babcock’s treatment of human beings, I won’t comment on Mike Commodore’s vitriol-fueled feud with Babcock. We don’t know what happened in there other than it still sizzles, white-hot. But what about Jason Spezza being arbitrarily sat down on the opening night of this season?

Jason Spezza, who showed up early summer, after being requested by the Leafs to help younger players on face-offs and positioning. Jason Spezza, the long-standing veteran, who turned down multi-year contracts to play for hometown Toronto on a one-year contract at league-minimum. Jason Spezza, who bought 30 tickets for friends and family to see his debut with his Maple Leafs.

If you don’t care about Babcock’s mean-spirited sitting of Spezza, ask Mike Modano, another classy veteran, not allowed to dress for the last game of the season, the final game of his career. That game would have given local-Detroit boy Modano an even 1,500 for his Hall of Fame career.

Do you see a pattern? Mike Babcock’s fierce hawk-like perpetual predatory gaze isn’t about hockey. It is concentration on himself, his will, his way, his feuds, his perceived wins, and losses. Babcock loves embellishing his own legend more than he cares about players or loves the game of hockey.

As dedicated as Babcock seems and sounds, his success has soured him toward life and others. Here is the measure of that. The definition of character is a human being willing to make excuses for others, but not for oneself. You check scrutinizing others, knowing you don’t know everything about them. But don’t spare yourself criticism, because that limits growth and nurtures self-pity.

Mike taunted his NHL stars. If they expected to be paid like stars, they must play like stars. He will receive $50 million over eight years from Toronto. With a young star-studded Leaf roster, Babcock missed the playoffs once and faced first-round defeat three times. We will give Mike a pass on his first-year. But judged by his own standards, he should be coaching in Flin Flon rather than Toronto.

Next. Wings Make Great Decision With Jonathan Ericsson. dark

Mike Babcock isn’t one of us. That is why it is so easy and even feels so good to root against him.

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