Henrik Zetterberg says it was time for Mike Babcock to go
Upon completion of the Detroit Red Wings’ season, it was fairly obvious that Mike Babcock was going to entertain some significant offers, including one to remain with the Wings. Ultimately, one of the NHL’s most celebrated free agents took his talents to Toronto, signing the richest contract ever for a head coach.
That’s the Mike Babcock side of the split with Detroit. We really haven't gotten a sense of how his former players felt about his leaving the Red Wings, and what impact that departure might have on the team.
According to captain Henrik Zetterberg, they're happy to have a new voice behind the bench.
"There's a lot of guys in here who've been through the same stuff for many years," Zetterberg said Thursday. "I think now with the additions of Green and Richards, and the new coach, it's given us a little fresh start. Obviously, it's going to be a different voice behind the bench and sometimes you need that."
Zetterberg clearly felt it was time for a change after 10 years under the hard-driving, abrasive Mike Babcock. "I want to thank Mike for the time he had here, but I think both him and us probably decided it was time," Zetterberg said.
You don’t exactly have to strain your eyes into a Babcockian squint to read between these lines. Jeff Blashill is a new voice. It was probably time for the old voice to go. Hence, for all of their success under one of the best coaches in hockey, playing for Mike Babcock isn’t exactly sunshine and rainbows. (We imagine that’s what it’s like playing for Jon Cooper.)
There was a lingering notion during Babcock’s time in Detroit that free agents weren’t taking that Little Caesar’s money because they didn’t want to serve under that hard-ass for several seasons. GM Ken Holland denied that was the case, but there’s no denying that Babcock can be a very demanding coach. There's also no denying that as he leaves, Mike Green and Brad Richards arrive via free agency.
To hear the team captain flip the script on his departed head coach – instead of Babcock leaving the Red Wings for the money, it was actually better for the Red Wings that he left – is more than a little intriguing.
What’s bigger: The contract Babs got from Brendan Shanahan, or the Red Wings’ desire to show they can win without him?
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