It’s official.
Mike Babcock has left the Detroit Red Wings and will join the Toronto Maple Leafs: an eight-year, $50-million deal, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.
To reset: Babcock to TOR. Eight-year deal, but there may be an "out" after five. Full value is approx $50M, but front loaded….
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 20, 2015
because of the out, could be as high as $8M. Will have power in personnel decisions, along with Brendan Shanahan. Announcement soon.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 20, 2015
#BabWatch ruled hockey Twitter on Mike Babcock’s decision day.
The "Babchelor" chooses Toronto over Buffalo. @jacobdearlove http://t.co/8D1FSAk29n pic.twitter.com/hkuRT2kZ9C
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 21, 2015
Leafs hire Mike Babcock. All they need now is five defencemen, eleven forwards, goalie, GM, plan for the future and they'll be fine. #Leafs
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) May 20, 2015
I made a GIF real quick. pic.twitter.com/HzfvkB0Qxo
— DJ ΞPIK (@DJEP1K) May 20, 2015
From the HHOF archives – Mike Babcock and the Stanley Cup cruising around on Emma Lake, Saskatchewan in 2008. pic.twitter.com/x1XX4XN7SH
— Hockey Hall of Fame (@HockeyHallFame) May 20, 2015
Most significant # in Babcock deal is term. Eight years. To me it reflects he knows building a contender in Toronto is a LONG road. 1/
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) May 20, 2015
And while Babcock is accomplished; no talent = no championship; so where/when does the talent arrive? Getting the coach is easy part. /2
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) May 20, 2015
Babcock has won everything there is to win, there's no reason to not go for the money
— Andrew Berkshire (@AndrewBerkshire) May 20, 2015
The big question remains, will Babcock manage to vanquish the former coach's nemesis? pic.twitter.com/aR3Tab9r4p
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 20, 2015
Welcome to #Toronto Mike Babcock – looking forward to seeing you behind the @MapleLeafs bench #TOpoli #Babwatch
— John Tory (@JohnTory) May 20, 2015
As long as Toronto's playing this Babcock thing as cool as … oh, forget it. pic.twitter.com/OGaZ8TYGHk
— cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) May 21, 2015
Never dreamed that #Babcock would come here . This is an incredible accomplishment and I tip my hat to #BrendanShanhan humbly :)
— Mark Osborne (@MarkOsborne21) May 20, 2015
One of my friends is super excited about the Babcock hire. pic.twitter.com/Ox0YZZq89I
— Caroline Cameron (@SNCaroline) May 20, 2015
Scott and I just ran full tilt at each other and embraced in celebration. I may cry. #BabsyInToronto
— Tessa Virtue (@tessavirtue) May 20, 2015
Know that old line about how it's touch for a coach when his players all make ooodles more $ than him. Scratch that in @MapleLeafs
— Daren Millard (@darenmillard) May 20, 2015
I don't get the shock about Babcock's contract: in a salary cap league, It's the only time the NHL's Yankees get to spend like the Yankees.
— Jeff Blair (@SNJeffBlair) May 20, 2015
Okay, so when can we expect Babcock's statue on Legends Row? #Leafs
— Anthony Bruno (@AnthonyMBruno) May 20, 2015
#Babwatch has taken over Twitter! Soon enough #TimandSid will be back on the air to give their take! pic.twitter.com/AFP0KB00xC
— Tim and Sid (@timandsid) May 20, 2015
"I'm taking my talents to…THE BANK!!!" #Babwatch pic.twitter.com/4Q9R3ebGke
— Mike Johnston (@MikeyJ_MMA) May 20, 2015
IT'S HAPPENING!!! #babwatch pic.twitter.com/6890UjOSwL
— ℳatt English (@matttomic) May 20, 2015
— Steve Dangle Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) May 20, 2015
Based on my #Twitter timeline I'd like to see this: #Babcock announcing decision while also buying #Argos with Riley Curry in his lap.
— Roger Lajoie (@TheRog590) May 20, 2015
My ENTIRE Twitter timeline is basically just "Mike Babcock!!11!!!!1!!!" pic.twitter.com/R9QvWQP7oL
— Hannah Bevis (@Hannah_Bevis1) May 20, 2015
Apparently Wikipedia knows before everyone else (via @jefftam). #Babwatch pic.twitter.com/iqV5CZZd8o
— Eric Prime (@PrimeSN590) May 20, 2015
As if the Sabres-Leafs games in Buffalo couldn't get any more interesting.
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) May 20, 2015
Either Babcock is brilliant in how he's leveraged everyone, or he doesn't know himself, or both.
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) May 20, 2015
Well, well, the #Leafs private jet is scheduled to leave Toronto at 5 p.m. and land in Detroit at 5:42. Hmmm. http://t.co/xJkjK3ChS3
— Mike Harrington (@BNHarrington) May 20, 2015
#HereComeTheLeafs pic.twitter.com/rxpWMa1JDI
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 20, 2015
The MLSE jet is on it's way to Detroit, but so is the St. Louis Blues Toyota Corolla.
— Jonathan Hockey (@YakovMironov) May 20, 2015
Just to get Babcock into the right frame of mind, the Leafs private jet will take off by zooming past a confused Dion Phaneuf.
— Down Goes Brown (@DownGoesBrown) May 20, 2015
"Over here Phil… I'm open." pic.twitter.com/qqwoRMdluB
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) May 20, 2015
Fully expecting Mike Babcock to replace Letterman
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) May 20, 2015
#Babwatch as seen by Detroit fans… pic.twitter.com/xojSCamcr1
— NHL Ties (@nhlties) May 20, 2015
The Leafs are currently paying half a roster's worth of players NOT to play for them. No number they'd offer Babcock would surprise me.
— Steve Dangle Glynn (@Steve_Dangle) May 20, 2015
Good god: Mike Babcock bought the Argos.
— Adam Proteau (@Proteautype) May 20, 2015
Is a signing just around the corner?… #Babwatch pic.twitter.com/0Edgxpt4Me
— PengellyInk (@pengellyink) May 20, 2015
It's time for the Leafs to play their trump card. pic.twitter.com/WbfpRYvMrq
— Sasha Kalra (@sashakalra) May 20, 2015
This is your daily reminder that the Leafs players are bad, and a coach can't change that. #Babwatch
— Byron Hackett (@byronhackett1) May 20, 2015
With Mike Babcock leaving Detroit, Boston's Claude Julien (for the time being) is the NHL's longest tenured head coach. Started in 07-08.
— Seth Rorabaugh (@emptynetters) May 20, 2015
The #Babwatch has now officially paralleled the LeBron decision a few years ago. It's interesting for a bit then it gets old quick.
— Chris Therien (@ctherien6) May 20, 2015
MLSE's pitch to Babcock: "The grass is greener in Toronto … unless you're at BMO Field, which will be completely destroyed by the Argos."
— Gary Melo (@Im_So_Legendary) May 20, 2015
Just landed in Chicago. It appears my in-flight movie wasn't nearly as intriguing as the episode of #Babwatch that's going on right now.
— Christine Simpson (@SNChrisSimpson) May 20, 2015
Mike Babcock is a wonderful coach and a far better human being. He's an admirable man, a charitable man, a good man. But that ego.
— George Malik (@georgemalik) May 20, 2015
Pretty sure DET quite comfortable going forward with Jeff Blashill.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) May 20, 2015
Somewhere, Phil Kessel takes a bite of a cheeseburger and thinks to himself: “Challenge accepted.” #Babcock
— scott feschuk (@scottfeschuk) May 20, 2015
"I now own the Argos?" pic.twitter.com/6wXOPQ1z1M
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) May 20, 2015
#Babswatch pic.twitter.com/hfrRFnmH26
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 20, 2015
Can't wait to watch the Brendan Shanahan video breaking down how they came to the number on Mike Babcock's contract. pic.twitter.com/mpFDgdZcLy
— Gary Melo (@Im_So_Legendary) May 20, 2015
