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Babcock Move Best For All Involved |
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For everyone involved, the reality, the fact of the matter is, the Mike Babcock situation had to happen.
It was time for a change. And change was best for all involved.
“I’ve been here a long frickin’ time and they’re probably tired of me,” Babcock said as he met with the Detroit media Friday at Joe Louis Arena, two days after accepting an eight-year, $50-million offer to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Babcock agreed that this was something that he needed in his life.
“I just thought for me, myself, for the energy level I would feel, I think change is an exciting thing,” Babcock said. “It’s scary. It’s really scary. It would have felt way better to get out of bed this morning, go for a workout, get in my hot tub when I got back, talk to my bride (Maureen), and get ready for next year.
“It would have been way easier. But that’s not what I chose to do.”
It’s not what Babcock chose to do because deep down inside, he knew that after 10 years as the coach of the Red Wings, it was the right thing. Ten years in one place is forever in professional sports.
Ten years as coach of the same pro team is an eternity.
“Don’t get me wrong - I love it here, but I also think it was time for me,” Babcock acknowledged. “No matter how much I talked to (Detroit general manager) Kenny (Holland) and we went back and forth and he was great, I wanted a different challenge.
“I went through a long process. I made a decision that was best, I felt, for Mike Babcock and his family. I’m going to a different place with a new opportunity where I’m very, very excited to go.”
It wasn’t an easy decision for him to make, but in the end, it was the appropriate call.
“I went back and forth on it 100 times,” Babcock admitted. “I probably wore Kenny out being a pain in the butt and I know I wore my family out. It was gut wrenching.
“As much of it is emotional for me right now talking to you, I said it yesterday it was like I was 25. I was jacked up, scared to death. We’ll see. Only time will tell. I believe you put your foot on the gas and go get it and that’s what we’re going to do.”
As difficult as it was, it was the right decision for Babcock to make - for himself, for the Wings, for all parties.
It didn’t matter what the Wings were going to offer, Babcock recognized it was time for him to go, to face a new and different challenge.
“I didn’t want more than five years with Kenny,” Babcock said. “You already knew what you had here. When you’re going to these other places and they’re set up the way they are, you needed more term. You needed more commitment.
“I even said to Kenny at one time just give me three (years). I wasn’t concerned about that at all. In the end what happened is I think two pretty good friends sat down and talked it out. He’s my advisor too. In the end I had to make a decision.
“Even though my family weighed in very heavily this worked out good for my wife. It’s four hours to here (from Toronto). It’s a big city. We can live downtown. It’s a change of life. My kids are leaving anyway so that’s a shock already.”
The Wings needed a new voice. Babcock required a new challenge, and in the Leafs, he couldn’t have bitten off a bigger one.
“I get to coach the Maple Leafs,” Babcock said. “A kid from Saskatoon, whose buddy was Gordie Howe’s nephew so you knew the Red Wings, you got to coach the Red Wings and now you get to coach the Maple Leafs.
“This was great. I don’t know what else to say. It was great. I loved it. I feel very, very special to have had this opportunity and I’m excited about the next one.”
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Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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