Mike Babcock didn’t choose to become head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs simply because they were the highest bidder – although an eight-year, $50-million contract would be hard for anyone to pass on.
Babcock was close to joining the Buffalo Sabres, but as Sportsnet’s Doug MacLean explains, things fell apart late in negotiations as Babcock consulted those closest to him.
“They thought they had a deal in Buffalo and he told them that all he wanted to do was check with his family,” MacLean told Dean Blundell & Co. Thursday. “[Sabres GM] Tim Murray told me that everything was positive and it was a family decision. That’s what Tim told me [Wednesday].”
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Babcock has a history with Murray, who hired him for his first professional coaching gig back in 2000 when the two were with the Anaheim Ducks organization. Babcock spent two years with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in the AHL before spending two years as bench boss of the NHL Ducks prior to 2004-05 lockout.
Babcock began his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings in 2005 where he began to forge his coaching legacy, winning a Stanley Cup in 2008.
“[The Sabres] were disappointed. There’s no doubt they’re disappointed. I guess there’s some people who feel he shopped their offer. Listen, if Rogers made me an offer and somebody else wanted me, I’d shop it too. Unfortunately, nobody else wanted me,” MacLean added, tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Hiring Babcock is the latest significant off-season move a struggling Maple Leafs team has pulled the trigger on. They fired GM Dave Nonis, interim head coach Peter Horachek and the coaching staff in April signifying the start of a true top-to-bottom rebuild.
However, some feel bringing Babcock – who led Team Canada to Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014 – into the fold will expedite the rebuilding process.
“Do you really think he’s gonna come here and let’s tear it right down to nothing and rebuild?” MacLean pondered. “If Carlyle has them in the playoffs last year at Christmas when he gets fired, why couldn’t Babcock have them in the playoffs this year? I think this changes the rebuild. I really do.
“Does Joe Torre go to the Dodgers for a rebuild? What great coach goes anywhere for a rebuild? Great coaches go to places to have a chance to win a championship, don’t they? If Babcock turns this into a championship, this is one of the great coaching jobs in the history of hockey.”
