Mike Babcock addresses members of the media at the Red Wings' locker room clean out day. (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

Mike Babcock speaks about his decision to leave Detroit, join Maple Leafs

Mike Babcock addresses members of the media at the Red Wings' locker room clean out day. (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)
Mike Babcock addresses members of the media at the Red Wings’ locker room clean out day. (Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey)

 

By @MichaelCaples –

At 11 a.m. today, Red Wings greats Brendan Shanahan and Mike Babcock shared a stage to discuss working together – for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Babcock, head coach of the Detroit Red Wings for a decade, was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Maple Leafs today in Toronto, in an event streamed across multiple websites and television stations in North America.

The press conference began with a ‘thank you’ to the Wings, however.

“I would like to start off by thanking Kenny Holland and the Detroit Red Wings for their professionalism and their cooperation,” said Shanahan, president of the Maple Leafs and former Red Wings forward. “Mike and I have a great relationship with them and go way back.”

Babcock’s opening address at the conclusion of Shanahan’s statement: “I too would like to thank Ken Holland, the Detroit Red Wings, the Ilitch family for ten unbelievable years and the opportunity for my family to grow up in one city. Very, very special time.”

Babcock went on to discuss his new opportunity coaching the team arguably the most popular professional sports franchise in Canada.

“I’m thrilled today to be here,” Babcock said. “I have to tell you, I felt like I was 25 years old scared to death here this morning. Excited about the opportunity and looking forward to the challenge. This is a great, great city, unbelievable fans, and it’s the Maple Leafs. I’m proud to be here today, and I look forward to the process, the battle, the pain, the fun, the journey – it’s going to be a long one, but it’s going to be a lot of fun. Thank you.”

The first question asked, of course, was why the decision to Toronto. TSN reporter Darren Dreger said that during his sit-down interview with Holland and Babcock in Prague last Friday, he got the impression Babcock would be returning to Detroit.

“Well I think the first thing is that we went through a long process,” Babcock said. “I’m very respectful to Mr. I and Kenny for giving me that opportunity. It was also trying to figure out what the best thing was for Mike Babcock and his family for the next ten years. We just had an unbelievable run for ten years and enjoyed ourselves.

“I always think about what’s the message to your kids, and I said to my wife, we’ve been chasing for our whole lives trying to be the best we can possibly be, and maybe it’s time for another opportunity. But the opportunity in Detroit, and the relationship I had with Ken Holland and the Ilitch family and those players is a very, very emotional thing to say the least. This was a hard decision. In the end, we went through the process and talked to lots of teams and I can’t tell you how much I learned, it was unbelievable, but in the end, we made this decision to come to Toronto. I’ve had a lot of opportunities to coach Canada’s teams, and enjoyed that immensely. Whether you believe it or not, I believe this is Canada’s team, and we need to put Canada’s team back on the map.”

Buffalo reporters in attendance claimed that there was a deal done in Buffalo and faced Babcock with questions about it, one even saying Babcock “lied” about the deal.

Babcock simply responded by saying there were certainly negotiations that took place, but there was never any finished deal and the ultimate decision between he and his wife was to go to Toronto.