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The Right Man For The Job
by Paul on 11/02/07 at 05:20 PM ET
Comments (7)
from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,
...When the Red Wings originally hired Mike Babcock away from the Anaheim Ducks to replace Dave Lewis, they did so knowing the inherent risk. Babcock was the antithesis of the low-key Lewis — he didn’t mind rattling a few cages and asserted his authority when necessary. That isn’t always a popular approach on a veteran team. The tendency for the players is to ask, who does this (newcomer) guy think he is anyway? Sometimes, that manifests itself in a player revolt — and a revolving door in the coaching office. Instead, the Red Wings’ players bought into what Babcock was selling. They are grittier than they were two seasons ago; are more dogged and persistent in their fore-checking; and yet they retain a high skill level, a Red Wings’ characteristic for going on 15 years now.
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Filed in: NHL Teams, Detroit Red Wings | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Mike+Babcock,
Comments
Also, he was technically hired away from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary on 11/02/07 at 05:47 PM ET
Mike Babcock should be considered a front runner for the Jack Adams Trophy this year. He has been an excellent coach, first with the Ducks, now with the Red Wings.
His coaches’ clinic for youth teams this year in rookies camp (Traverse City) was a real contribution to youth hockey in Michigan.
His work with a transitioning and supposedly “soft” Detroit team is amazing. This is not the team loaded with high-priced, hired-gun hall-of-famers from 2002. This is a group of hard working, blue collar hockey players who are dancing to the same drum.
How he does this, I don’t know, but he should be recognised for his great work.
Posted by w2j2 on 11/02/07 at 06:41 PM ET
The Adams winner is selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
Babcock doesn’t have a pretty smile. He doesn’t come off as charming (more like the opposite). He’s not a particularly good quote. He’s not in his first season with a new team. He doesn’t even have the luxury of being a former NHL player.
He’s got no chance.
Posted by shep from california on 11/03/07 at 12:05 AM ET
Babs makes up for his lack of charm with sincerity and intensity, and, this year, anyway, some surprisingly refreshing candor. He’ll probably never get anything more than a nomination because there still is that good old media hate on for Detroit (part PR department rep, part hating the Wings thing, part, “Our team isn’t made up of players who the extremely easily distracted media can relate to similarly to the way they do when a shiny quarter is dropped on the sidewalk"), but the Wings’ regular-season record should bear out a third straight 50-win season, and that’s what’s going to matter in the end.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 11/03/07 at 04:40 AM ET
But Monty Babcock, Ringmaster for The Flying Circus, DOES wear exquisite neck ties! Doesn’t that count for something?
Posted by w2j2 on 11/03/07 at 05:45 AM ET
...the extremely easily distracted media can relate to similarly to the way they do when a shiny quarter is dropped on the sidewalk"…
Hee-hee. That reminds me of a t-shirt I saw at GenCon many years ago.
“I am Homer of Borg. Prepare to be assimil...Ooh, donuts!”
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/03/07 at 08:33 AM ET
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Hockey Links
“so when their game with the Columbus Blue Jackets (a 1-1 snorathon through regulation and overtime) went to a shootout, coach Randy Carlyle decided to let Schneider try his luck, and was rewarded when he scored the game winner.”
Hey, I get it, you can’t watch EVERY minute of every game. Knowing that, someone who writes about the sport should know a little more than low = low excitement. He just comes off as a jackass.
The game had pretty good intensity and good back and forth play, although the ice was definitely slanted towards the columbus net. There were some beauty plays to be seen, including Perry turning a defender into a pretzel after a slick set of moves, and a redunkulous Norrena quick flash of leather save on a deflected shot.
Not to mention 3 fights, and the rugby pile up that resulted after a brutal exchange of hits in the Ducks’ zone.
So, yea, note to Duhatschek: if you have no idea what it is you’re talking about, maybe don’t talk about it next time.
Posted by Bryce on 11/02/07 at 05:15 PM ET