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Entries with the tag: mike+babcock
You May Need ‘The Babcock’
by Paul on 03/20/10 at 05:29 PM ET
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Thanks to Jeff Marek of CBC pointing this out on Twitter..
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Tags: Mike+Babcock, Team+Canada,
Babcock Talks Hockey At Red Deer College
by Paul on 03/16/10 at 01:36 PM ET
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from the Red Deer Advacate,
Twenty-two years after being hired on as a rookie hockey coach, Mike Babcock returned to the Red Deer College fold on Tuesday morning.
In front of more than 800 people at the Capri Centre Exhibition Hall, Babcock — recent coach of the gold medal-winning men’s hockey team in the Winter Olympics and current coach of the Detroit Red Wings — was the featured speaker of the seventh annual Red Deer College Kings and Queens Scholarship Breakfast.
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You Have To Do It Right
by Paul on 03/11/10 at 07:53 AM ET
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from Tim Wharnsby of CBC,
Mike Babcock was dripping in sweat. He had just returned from his daily run along the riverfront outside Joe Louis Arena. The sparkle from coaching the Canadian men’s Olympic team to gold in Vancouver only 11 days previous was not evident because of Babcock’s current predicament with the Detroit Red Wings.
He was less than 24 hours removed from a devastating 4-2 home loss to the Calgary Flames. Local reporters were waiting for him to explain what buttons he was going to push to get the Red Wings into the playoffs.
There is concern around Motown. The Red Wings are in ninth spot with 16 regular-season games remaining. Detroit hasn’t missed the post-season since 1989-90.
“You have to do it right,” Babcock said after he finished his briefing session with reporters. “There will time in the summer to reflect on the Olympics when I’m in my boat at the lake.”
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A Hunting He Will Go
by Paul on 03/09/10 at 03:45 PM ET
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Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is featured on Outdoor Channel’s Nosler’s Magnum TV during a hunting trip in Africa. Tune in to see Mike and the hosts stalk through the jungle in search of Buffalo in Tanzania. Attached is a promo video of Coach Mike Babcock on the show hunting in Tanzania for you to enjoy and post on your site / blog if you’d like.
The show will be airing on Outdoor Channel Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 a.m. and Thursday, March 11 at 9:00 p.m.
In Detroit, Outdoor Channel is on Comcast Channel 730; On DirecTV- Channel 606; DISH – Channel 153.
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Listen To Mike Babcock And Ryan Miller
by Paul on 03/04/10 at 02:31 PM ET
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NEW YORK (March 4, 2010) – Mike Babcock, head coach of the Detroit Red Wings and Team Canada, and Ryan Miller goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres and Team USA, are today’s guests on NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman on NHL.com and SIRIUS XM Radio at 6 p.m. ET.
Mike Babcock’s international coaching career has been golden. On Sunday, as head coach of Canada’s Men’s Olympic hockey team, Babcock completed hockey’s grand slam by adding yet another accomplishment to his already impressive resume. With Canada’s 3-2 overtime victory against Team USA in Vancouver, Babcock became the only coach in hockey history to guide teams to supremacy in four of the most prestigious tournaments in the game: the World Junior Championship, the World Championship, the Olympic Games and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Tags: Mike+Babcock, Ryan+Miller, Team+Canada, Team+USA,
Canada, You Should Not Question This Man Again
by Paul on 02/28/10 at 06:23 PM ET
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added 6:32pm, Or this guy too…
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Tags: Mike+Babcock, Steve+Yzerman, Team+Canada,
Afternoon Line
by Paul on 02/28/10 at 12:12 PM ET
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“I knew he always has teams that work hard and are positionally sound, but I’m impressed by his coaching style. He’s quick and to the point and his voice is really heard in the dressing room. It’s been great to play for him.”
-Rick Nash of Team Canada. More on Babcock from Dan Rosen of NHL.com.
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Babcock Doesn’t Handle The Goalie Switch Well
by Paul on 02/22/10 at 10:53 PM ET
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from the Toronto Star (no writer mentioned),
Martin Brodeur doesn’t feel like he was lied to. Just blamed unfairly, and undoubtedly disrespected by head coach Mike Babcock.
Not only did Babcock call out Brodeur for his play in a 5-3 loss to the United States on Sunday, he then told Roberto Luongo he would be in goal for the qualification match against Germany a few hours after the game but waited to deliver the news to Brodeur, the winningest goalie in the history of the sport, until before practice on Monday.
Maybe you can never make these kind of momentous changes and keep everyone happy.
But Babcock didn’t really try.
So now he’s got to ride Luongo to the end of these Olympics....
Anytime Babcock has had success—1997 world juniors, 2002 Stanley Cup final with Anaheim, 2008 and ’09 Cup finals with Detroit—he has identified a starting goalie and rode him hard.
He didn’t pull Marc Denis in ’97 when that team struggled, or J.S. Giguere in ’02, or Chris Osgood in either of the past two playoff season.
more and someone forgot who the starting goalie for the Wings was in the 2008 playoffs (hint, it wasn’t Osgood)..
note 7:07am 2/23/10, The article is from Damiien Cox.
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Babcock- “We Got To Stop The Snowball From Rolling Downhill”
by Paul on 01/28/10 at 01:58 PM ET
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Mike Babcock was on the Fan590 about 20 minutes ago.
Talked Wings and very frank in his discussion. Then talked Team Canada before talking more Wings, including Osgood.
He also mentioned Williams back tomorrow, Homer back Sunday or the next game and Franzen scheduled to play the last three games before the Olympic break.
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Babcock Wearing Two Hats
by Paul on 01/10/10 at 09:21 AM ET
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from Mark Purdy of the Mercury News,
You might have heard. Our beloved Los Tiburones are sending more players to the Canadian team than any other NHL franchise. The top Sharks forward line of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau will be joined by defenseman Dan Boyle.
What does that mean? It means that Saturday night, Babcock was sending out his Detroit players to fight and battle against the Sharks players who could be Babcock’s most key offensive performers in Vancouver.
And that had to be awkward.
“I don’t think there’s anything awkward about it,” Babcock said. “I don’t really understand where you’re going.”
Actually, in my head, I am going where Babcock will be going in a few weeks. Anxiety or intensity doesn’t begin to describe the destination.
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Tags: Mike+Babcock, Team+Canada,
Babcock Keeps The Wings In The Race
by Paul on 12/30/09 at 08:47 AM ET
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from Cassie Campbell of CBC,
Mike Babcock has to be a candidate for coach of the year!
I know his team, the Detroit Red Wings, is full of talent and is expected to be vying for a Stanley Cup every year, but right now they’re in ninth spot, out of the playoffs in the Western Conference. The Wings are a team that has both the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks thinking, ‘Please get a lot better and move way up the standings or please get a lot worse and move way down the standings - just as long as we don’t have to face them in the first round!’
If the Wings make the playoffs this year, Mike Babcock and his staff will have done one heck of a job. I mean, the injuries alone would probably decimate any other team, but he has found a way to keep his team competing while dealing with 180-plus man games lost.
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Babcock Always Learning
by Paul on 12/28/09 at 08:24 AM ET
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from Rachel Brady at CTVOlympics,
In the summer of 2001, Mike Babcock—then coach of the AHL’s Cincinnati Ducks—called Hockey Canada to ask if he could come watch the men’s Olympic hockey camp in Calgary prior to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. He wanted to learn from the best coaches and players and take a few notes.
He had already acted as coach of Canada’s World Junior team, so Hockey Canada was happy to let the coach attend. A young coach trying to make it to the NHL, he was doing anything he could to gain an edge in the hockey world.
Fast-forward to 2009, and Babcock is now one of the game’s most accomplished coaches. The Detroit Red Wings coach will soon take the bench behind Canada’s 2010 Olympic team. Yet the Stanley Cup winning coach still calls himself a life-long learner. He has rarely missed an opportunity to benefit from his encounters with people, in hockey or otherwise.
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Can’t Argue With Babcock’s Logic
by Paul on 11/19/09 at 10:10 AM ET
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Babcock on the Brad May non-goal because of intent to blow the whistle.
In case you missed the play, watch it at A2Y.
12:04pm, added the video from the Stars feed below…
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Babcock Waves His Canadian Flag
by Paul on 11/02/09 at 07:42 PM ET
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from Dave Waddell of the Windsor Star,
Having coached in the U.S. the past decade, Babcock isn’t shy anytime he gets a chance to wave the maple leaf.
“I’m going to talk about the opportunity to be an Olympian and the opportunity for Canadians to understand how important it is for the country to embrace this,” Babcock said. “Having it in your country and getting to share all the great things about Canada is fantastic.”
From a personal standpoint, Babcock rates the impending experience in Vancouver as his greatest.
He knows he faces immense pressure and second guessing from a nation with lofty expectations, but his background as an avid hunter tells him the thrill is only amplified by the pursuit of such an elusive prize as a gold medal.
“It’s the greatest opportunity you can have as a hockey coach,” Babcock said. “To me, this is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, since I was a boy, to be an Olympian.
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Afternoon Line
by Paul on 10/10/09 at 02:08 PM ET
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With Franzen gone, we’ll REALLY learn how good—or mediocre—a coach Mike Babcock is in Detroit.
-Stan Fischler via his Twitter.
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Babcock With Numerous Topics
by Paul on 09/28/09 at 08:50 AM ET
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Exhibition season, prospects, outlook for the regular season, trip to Sweden and the Detroit Lions are some of the topics Mike Babcock discussed last night.
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Morning Line
by Paul on 09/22/09 at 10:41 AM ET
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“He’s in way better shape. He’s way quicker than he was last time here. So now we need a big-time effort each and every night, and I think we’re going to get that.”
-Wings Coach Mike Babcock on Todd Bertuzzi. Read more from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
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A Little Bitter Tim?
by Paul on 08/29/09 at 06:05 PM ET
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from Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly,
What was going through the mind of that brilliant strategist Mike Babcock this week, while he was skating players hard on the first day of his Team Canada Olympic orientation camp in Calgary?
Talk about brain cramps from one of hockey’s more obnoxious coaches – and we haven’t heard a single person question that serious lack of judgment.
Most of Babcock’s players hadn’t seen a pair of skates – much less laced them up – since last spring. True, Simon Gagne had been skating for two weeks. But he wasn’t skating hard.
Is it any wonder Gagne tweaked his right groin?
Good thing they had insurance, huh? Just to protect the players from Babcock.
continued & more topics too…
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Morning Line
by Paul on 08/27/09 at 09:52 AM ET
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“He’s a Type A personality. He’s a very focused, intense individual. He doesn’t move on anywhere until it’s done. If it’s not done right, he doesn’t care what the name is on the back, where you’re from or who you play for. You got to do the job. When he says you’ve got to play 200 feet, you got to play 200 feet. The game we want to play (in Vancouver) has a lot of pressure in it, a lot of skating in it. There’s no resting on the ice.”
-Ken Hitchcock on Mike Babcock. More on Babcock from Michael Farber of Sports Illustrated.
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Babcock In Charge
by Paul on 08/25/09 at 10:01 PM ET
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from Jeff Marek of CBC Sports,
First, this is Mike Babcock’s team. Period.
Yes, he is flanked by some outstanding assistant coaches in Jacques Lamaire, Ken Hitchcock and Lindy Ruff - who since he is the youngest of all assistant coaches gets to do the grunt work like shovel snow in front of the net - but make no mistake about it, Babcock is in charge.
Even at the opening press conference on Monday where Babcock laid out his now infamous “200-foot” hockey player analogy, you can tell in every interaction that the coach is leading this squad. Right away Babcock is on the ice at the opening session.
He gives out the instructions, he runs the drills and yes he stops players who aren’t doing exactly what he wants. And that includes the Sidney Crosby/Rick Nash/Jarome Iginla line, which he stopped Tuesday and made them start a drill over.
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We Haven’t Had Much Babcock Talk Lately
by Paul on 08/25/09 at 07:40 PM ET
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Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock talks to the media after day 2 of Team Canada’s orientation camp in Calgary, Alberta.
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Babcock On Team Canada Orientation Camp
by Paul on 07/30/09 at 11:26 AM ET
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from Dan Rosen of NHL.com,
If you think Canadian hockey fans are swept up in an Olympic frenzy now, Team Canada coach Mike Babcock wants you to remember one thing: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Just wait until Canada’s roster is announced, Babcock told NHL.com, and you’ll really see a nation of hopeful nitpickers, naysayers, pundits and prognosticators.
“I’m glad I coach in the U.S., honestly,” Babcock added. “It’s just going to go crazy.”
Speculation about who will make the team figures to run rampant until the roster is made public in December. The chatter will pick up steam next month when Calgary becomes the center of the country’s hockey universe for four days as Canada holds its orientation camp Aug. 24-27.
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Advice To Team Canada Coach
by Paul on 06/26/09 at 12:51 PM ET
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from Mike Toth of Sportsnet,
Suck up to Sid the Kid, the same guy who ruined the Red Wings dream of winning back-to-back Stanleys.
Running the risk of being labeled a “homer” by naming Chris Osgood to Team Canada, and incurring Ozzie’s wrath if he doesn’t.
Convincing the Red Wings huge European brigade that he still loves them, even though he’ll go to war against them in Vancouver.
And, oh yeah; trying to make sure that an older Detroit team doesn’t get sick and tired of the same old message.
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Tags: Mike+Babcock, Team+Canada,
Report- Your Team Canada Coach
by Paul on 06/23/09 at 07:30 AM ET
Comments (5)
from Tim Wharnsby of the Globe and Mail,
Hockey Canada and everyone involved has been tight-lipped about the appointment, but a source confirmed last night that Yzerman will announce Babcock as the coach most likely on Thursday in a press conference to take place a few blocks from Montreal’s McGill University, where Babcock played defence....
The only part of Yzerman’s announcement that will be a surprise will be the assistant coaches. Babcock’s assistants are expected to come from a group that includes Ken Hitchcock (Columbus Blue Jackets), Claude Julien (Boston Bruins), Lindy Ruff (Buffalo Sabres), Barry Trotz (Nashville Predators) and Randy Carlyle (Ducks).
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Babcock Before Game 7
by Paul on 06/12/09 at 12:30 PM ET
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Q. Any lineup or line changes for tonight?
COACH BABCOCK: No.
Q. This morning when you woke up, did it feel any different?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I think pretty much I did exactly what I always do. Went for a run. Went through the game. Did all the stuff I’ve always done. I think yesterday for me was different because it’s exciting. I mean, it’s just flat out exciting to be here.
Anywhere you go in this town, people are talking about it, and excited about it. And plan on watching it. It should be good.
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Babcock Talk On Thursday
by Paul on 06/11/09 at 01:20 PM ET
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Q. It seems like each of these games has had its own sort of identity or personality instead of one sort of leading or following naturally. Do you think that’s accurate? If so, why do you think that dynamic has been this way in this series the first six games?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I think four of the games were anybody’s game. I think two of the games were Game 4 and Game 5 to me were one team. I think they’ve both been momentum games where teams have carried momentum for large portions at a time, really tilted the rink. The other team looks like they can’t get out of their end. And then the other team seems to come back, and it just goes back and forth.
We’re not going to have to worry about any of that stuff now. It’s just an opportunity here now for both teams.
You know, I have to tell you I’ve been real impressed. I think they played hard. I think our team has played hard. The playoffs for our team this year has been as big a battle as we’ve ever had for sure. Just with what’s gone on and some of the injuries we’ve had and that. I’ve been really impressed with our team’s will, and our guys’ attitude over the last couple of days. Excited to go.
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Babcock Back In Detroit Today
by Paul on 06/10/09 at 12:22 PM ET
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Q. Obviously, the Pens have had great success in Mellon in the series, and you guys have done really well at Joe Louis. When you looked at the films have you been able to ascertain what the difference is between what’s happening in your arena and their arena?
COACH BABCOCK: I think the teams seem to get centered on time and feel a little more comfortable in their building. And I thought in last night’s game, it’s interesting, because we had three shots in the first period, yet Zetterberg and Datsyuk and Cleary had some unbelievable opportunities that just didn’t go.
I mean, that’s hockey. I thought last night’s game was a real good game. But you’re right. If you look at it, I’ve been in a series exactly like this and we went to Jersey for Game 7 and lost. It was the same thing. Couldn’t win on the road. Couldn’t even touch the puck on the road. It was just ugly. For whatever reason, I’m not sure the number, I think we won 27 games on the road in the regular season. We were the best road team in the NHL.
Going into the series you say to yourself you’re going to win one game. And I think every game in the series with the exception of Game 5 in here and Game 4 in there could have gone either way. Those two games the teams just flat out won the games. Other than that, it’s been real close.
So it’s the greatest stage, the greatest opportunity, and it should be a lot of fun.
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Babcock Before Game 6
by Paul on 06/09/09 at 12:56 PM ET
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Q. Jonathan Ericsson got to hoist the Cup here last year. Obviously, he didn’t play. Can you talk about how he’s evolved this postseason, and how nice it is to have a guy like Nick being a calming influence in the situation like the one we have tonight?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, he’s come a long, long way, obviously. And his development, I think they’ve done a good job. When he came here, if I’m not mistaken, he was a forward. And they kept him in the minors for a long period of time, even though the coach wanted him to come sooner. By the time he got here, he was a good player.
As you can tell by watching him, he’s going to be a good player for a long time. He’s a good first passer, he can play against big people, he’s a good body, good reach, good on the penalty kill. He probably has more offensive flair than he’s shown this far.
But for guys like that in the League, like Cheli and Nick and those guys around you, to talk to you and help you watch where they put their stick and their feet, and how they handle themselves professionally on and off the ice, I think those are invaluable things for a kid.
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High Praise For Babcock
by Paul on 06/08/09 at 06:01 PM ET
Comments (3)
from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,
It has been well documented how Holland and the rest of his front office have excelled like no other NHL club at drafting, developing and assembling championship rosters. But Babcock, perhaps, hasn’t quite got the same amount of credit for his job behind the bench.
“I don’t know if he really does,” San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan told ESPN.com on Monday. “People will say that he has very good players. Well, there’s a lot of teams in the league that have very good players. We’re one of them. We have players that are world-class as well and we’re not playing right now.
“So I think a lot more credit to should go Mike’s way and his staff’s way, as well. They’re well-prepared and they never beat themselves.”
McLellan was an assistant coach here last year, winning a Cup alongside Babcock. He didn’t hesitate one iota when asked to describe him as a coach.
“Two words come to mind: committed and focused,” McLellan said. “He knows exactly what he wants to do as a coach and he knows how he’s going to do it. He has a plan and he knows how he’s going to executive it. That’s a sign of a great leader. The Wings are very fortunate to have him coaching there right now.
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Babcock Today Part 2 (In Pittsburgh)
by Paul on 06/08/09 at 05:05 PM ET
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Q. Can you just talk a little bit about focus and the idea that this is just one game? You’re coming here for one game. Not thinking about the Cup. You’re thinking about winning one game, and whether or not you actually say to the guys, don’t think about the Cup? To what extent do you just say this is only a game?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, we talk about a lot of things. You know, obviously, focus and preparation is absolutely critical, and being ready on time. We came in here last week or whenever it was, you know, with an opportunity and failed to do anything with that opportunity. Went home with two losses.
So here’s another opportunity for us. Hopefully we’ve learned. We haven’t handled the start of the game very good in here. And in the second game in here, we didn’t handle the end of the game very good.
You know, we’ve been in this exact situation before, and we’re going to do everything to be the best we can possibly be.
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Babcock On Monday
by Paul on 06/08/09 at 02:32 PM ET
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Q. I’m sure you were, when you were looking ahead during the season, you thought of the possibility that Helm and Ericsson would play a role in the playoffs. But one, did you anticipate they would play this big a role? And where is Helm’s game now compared to where it was when he helped you last year in the postseason?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, you’re right, I envisioned that maybe both guys would be here and never really thought about Big E playing so much just because we thought we’d have Lils. And, you know, that wouldn’t have worked out that way, probably, because he wouldn’t have been given the opportunity like he was in the regular season.
Helmer was very comfortable with, I mean, he made our team in training camp. With the salary cap we just thought this was better for him. And I never could have thought that he’d be this good. There’s no way. We brought him up in the regular season. We played him in the three hole on purpose. He was good, but not like this. And he’s been very good for us.
With the way things happened for us with Kopecky getting injured, he’s a physical guy for us. He’s getting six finished checks a game and we needed more of that.
So with Pavel injured, what happens is you move someone else up who normally finishes checks for you. Now you become a different looking hockey club. So Helmer has done a real good job to provide puck pressure, physicality, and give us a good face?off presence in the three hole. He’s been good on the penalty kill. So all in all he’s been excellent. The two of them have been great. When you look at Abby and Leino, they did a good job for us, too.
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Sunday Babcock Talk
by Paul on 06/07/09 at 01:11 PM ET
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Q. Mike, given the psychologists role in a head coaching job, and given the potential in swings this series has taken beyond just playing hard and playing smart, what are some of the nuances going into your particular thought process to prepare this team for a desperate situation on their home ice Tuesday?
COACH BABCOCK: It’s the same as always. It’s stuff that you guys, it doesn’t have a enough flair for you, but it’s the facts. And living in the present is no different than what I’m doing right now. If you’re here, you might as well do a good job of it.
It’s the same in our preparation, as much as everyone wants to get caught up in momentum and carryover and all that stuff. I’ve said many times I’m not a big believer in that. I’m a big believer in being prepared, getting focused and executing. If you do all those things, you have a chance to get lucky.
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Coach Babcock After Game 5
by Paul on 06/06/09 at 11:31 PM ET
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Q. Your thoughts on the lift Datsyuk gave the team?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I think I said this earlier, if he played the series without Malkin and Crosby and they suddenly come ?? this guy’s one of the best players in the world both offensively and defensively in the winter. Just makes the team more comfortable. We need plays, and suddenly we relaxed and we made plays.
We’ve been able to have success, but it’s been much harder, obviously, without him. And you have to learn to win a different way and find a way. I’ve been very impressed with our guys finding a way. We bought time so he can come back, and ideally he can help us get over the top.
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Mike Babcock This Morning
by Paul on 06/06/09 at 12:04 PM ET
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Q. I’m under the impression you may be unveiling once again the lucky McGill tie tonight? I’m wondering if that’s accurate? And I understand you even have some former teammates and alumni in town, talk about that?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I’m getting a lot of pressure to do that, I can tell you. I got so many emails, there’s like 34 of them. I’ve already talked to security. I said to the security I don’t want them to do anything that could be embarrassing. I like them to have as much fun as they want, but keep them confined to a reasonable amount of consumption and carrying on (smiling).
So I haven’t decided on the McGill tie. I actually bought a tie to wear today, and it wasn’t the McGill tie, but I am getting some pressure. But we’ll decide, I’ve got a little bit of time.
Q. Game time decision.
COACH BABCOCK: There’s a lot of that going on (laughing).
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Babcock’s Reputation On The Line
by Paul on 06/05/09 at 08:46 AM ET
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from Jamie’s Hockey Blog at About.com,
We’ve seen that when the Red Wings are on their game, they will beat Pittsburgh.
Getting them on their game is where the coach comes in, and doing it under less than ideal circumstances should be what sets elite coaches above the pack.
The NHL season is down to a best-of-three. The Stanley Cup is on the line.
So is Mike Babcock’s reputation.
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Coach Babcock Today
by Paul on 06/03/09 at 03:44 PM ET
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Q. Pavel looked pretty good today. Is he pretty close or what do you think?
COACH BABCOCK: I don’t know. What we’ll do is we’ll go for the optional skate in the morning and see how he responded today and see how he felt.
I haven’t talked to him since he got off, and I haven’t talked to Pete. He was still out there well after I got off, so we’ll see how he is.
Q. Maybe we’ll deal in the ifs. If he is available, how much of a difference does he make just in that they have Malkin and Crosby on different lines and he obviously gives you another pretty good shut down guy?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, he’s - I don’t know if he’s a shut down guy, I just think he’s a pretty good player, right. He’s a Hart Trophy candidate. He’s one of the best players in the world. Obviously, we’d like to have him. But it’s one of those injuries. You have some situations at Playoff time, and we have to find a way to overcome, we’ve done a good job.
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Babcock Today
by Paul on 06/02/09 at 12:48 PM ET
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Q. Has Draper been cleared to play by doctors and if so, will he play tonight?
COACH BABCOCK: Yeah, he was cleared before last game. Don’t know if he’ll play tonight. It will be based on Samuelsson. Samuelsson didn’t take the morning skate, so we’ll see what happens there.
Q. Second injury, we just saw Pavel out on the ice. Just your thoughts on him and how does he look today?
COACH BABCOCK: Well, I guess he had his best overnight experience that he’s had. And he seemed to have a big turn around. So he was real optimistic here today. I don’t assume that affects today’s game whatsoever, but it could really affect the following game.
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Today with Coach Mike Babcock
by Alanah McGinley on 06/01/09 at 02:20 PM ET
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From today’s press conference with Red Wings’ coach Mike Babcock. Transcript provided courtesy of the NHL.
Q. These teams each have a Hart Trophy finalist, and obviously yours has not been able to play. Two parts, the first part, is it right to rescind the automatic suspension on Malkin? And the second part, are we overlooking the fact that you guys have won two games without your Hart Trophy finalist?
COACH BABCOCK: You have to decide that part. Obviously we’re a much better team to have him playing because he has the puck so much. In my opinion, he’s one of the most dominant players in the game.
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Mike Babcock Today
by Paul on 05/26/09 at 01:28 PM ET
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Q. An update on Lidstrom and Datsyuk?
MIKE BABCOCK: They didn’t practice. Both guys are feeling better. We’ll see what goes on in the skate tomorrow, see if they’re available for that skate.
Q. Given the fact that your team played as well as they did without them, any chance that you would give them...
MIKE BABCOCK: None. If they’re ready, they’re playing.
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Babcock Today
by Paul on 05/25/09 at 12:48 PM ET
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Q. Mike, can you give us an update on your injured three.
MIKE BABCOCK: Who are the three? We got like five of ‘em. Pick which ones you want.
Q. Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Draper.
MIKE BABCOCK: Draper won’t be playing. Datsyuk and Lidstrom are day to day. And I don’t have to worry about it today. We don’t practice or play. So, you know, for a couple more days… I’m hopeful to see Pav and Nik very shortly here.
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Coach Babcock Talks On An Off-Day
by Paul on 05/23/09 at 04:59 PM ET
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Q. Mike, Brian Campbell labeled the Kronwall move as gutless. Whats your response to that?
MIKE BABCOCK: I thought it was a great hockey hit. I thought it was a great hockey hit. So far from being gutless it’s not even funny. He did it right. He didn’t leave his feet. The puck was right in between the guy’s feet. I mean, no way.
Q. Can you update Draper, Datsyuk, their situations for tomorrow? If Draper can’t play, who would replace him?
MIKE BABCOCK: Draper can’t play. Abbie is going to go in his spot. Be good for him. Play his natural position. Datsyuk is going to be the same thing as it was the day before. We’ll see. I noticed his stuff was hanging up. They’re hoping they can get him in his boot and get him going.
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Babcock Goes Big Time - Rome Is Burning
by Paul on 05/19/09 at 08:13 AM ET
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Morning Line
by Paul on 05/18/09 at 11:26 AM ET
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“They got a nice hockey club and, as we sit here and watch them, we’re watching them grow. We can’t wait for them to get into cap trouble, to tell you the truth. When you’re young like (the Blackhawks), and players are playing for cheap, you can have an abundance. But pretty soon, they’re not playing for cheap, and then, that’ll help us out.”
Wings Coach Mike Babcock on WDFN this morning. Listen to the interview at Mlive.
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Detroit Coach Babcock After Game 1
by Paul on 05/17/09 at 07:26 PM ET
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Q. Talk about the job that Dan did today.
MIKE BABCOCK: You know, obviously he’s playing with real good players, playing on a good line. They’re playing against important people in the game.
I thought we were in trouble really off the start of the game, whether it was engagement, whether it was coming off a big series, whether it was not as much time, whatever, we weren’t very good, and they were taking it to us. They were up 1?0. He made a real good shot. Then I thought we settled in and got playing real well after that point. Any time you’re driving into the net, get your stick on a puck, that’s just a good hockey goal, a good playoff goal.
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Babcock Seeks Advice From McLellan
by Alanah McGinley on 05/01/09 at 06:58 PM ET
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From Tim Wharnsby at the Globe & Mail:
San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan, nominated for the Jack Adams Trophy today, spent the three previous NHL seasons as an assistant coach under Detroit Red Wings bench boss Mike Babcock.
The Wings coach acknowledged that he phoned McLellan on Thursday for advice on dealing the Ducks, who upset the Sharks in the first round. But Babcock would not divulge what sort of counsel he received from McLellan.
[LINK]. And here’s another posting from Wharnsby this evening on Kris Draper’s future.
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Babcock Should Be Coach Canada
by Paul on 04/08/09 at 10:07 AM ET
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from Damian Cox of the Toronto Star,
It would be hard to imagine at this point how Mike Babcock could not be named the head coach of the Canadian men’s hockey team for next year’s Olympics.
Perhaps a verbal Avery-ism in front of TV cameras? Revelations that he was actually born in Galveston, Texas rather than Manitouwadge, Ont., and isn’t a Canadian citizen? Perhaps allegations from his McGill University days that he wore an autographed Alexander Ragulin T-shirt under his gear after secretly rooting for Rags and the Russians in ‘72?
Otherwise, while Steve Yzerman has maintained this is a decision that will have to wait until after the current NHL campaign is completed, the 45-year-old Babcock seems destined to be the man to lead the troops into Vancouver next winter.
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Evening Line
by Paul on 03/31/09 at 06:58 PM ET
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“My point is that, six games from now, we’re going to play a team that’s been in the playoffs for a month and half. That team will have engaged physically every night for a while now. They’ve had their heart and soul in it. They’ve built momentum. We’ve been in a different scenario. We’ve had another good season; we’ve got 107 points right now, 49 wins, we’ve had good individual numbers. But the reality you and I both know is that they’re going to drop the puck and the team we’re playing is going to battle for every inch of ice.
“There’s no switch to prepare you for that, so we have six games to make a conscious decision that we want to win, and if you make that conscious decision, that means you’re all in.”
-Wings coach Mike Babcock. More on the Wings from Pierre LeBrun at ESPN.
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Babcock Talks Wings - “We Got One Goalie Playing Better Than The Other Goalie”
by Paul on 02/19/09 at 03:50 PM ET
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The bench boss of the defending Stanley Cup champs joins The Game Plan on Fan590 to discuss being the fastest coach to ever reach 200 wins, his team’s struggles between the pipes, and whether he would be interested in coaching the Canadian Olympic team.
Mike Babcock also talks, Hossa, Lidstrom, the goalie situation and Datsyuk.
Well worth a listen if you are fan of the Wings.
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Classic Babcock
by Paul on 12/10/08 at 03:09 PM ET
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from Fan590,
The bench boss of the Red Wings joined Hockeycentral to discuss his team’s season thus far and to analyse their chief rivals for the Western Conference lead - the San Jose Sharks.
continue to listen…
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Evening Line
by Paul on 11/12/08 at 08:59 PM ET
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“It’s not the way we play defence, it’s the way we turn the puck over in such bad situations that you can’t play defence because you’re on the wrong side of the puck.
“They (Pittsburgh) got three goals on turnovers two feet from the blue-line. They got two goals on fly-bys where we don’t stop at the net on defence. “Then, we took penalties 200 feet from our net. Now, what team am I describing? But that’s the team I coach so oh, oh . . . ”
-Wings coach Mike Babcock. More from Dave Waddell of the Windsor Star.
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