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Maple Leafs Lure Babcock From Red Wings With Highest Coaching Salary In NHL History

MLSE is set to pay former Red Wings coach Mike Babcock "a record amount of money" -- $6.25M per season over eight years -- to coach the Maple Leafs in a "shocking turn of events," according to Darren Dreger of TSN.ca. Babcock "was the subject of an 11th hour bidding war" between the Leafs, Sabres and Red Wings, whom he coached 10 seasons before becoming hockey's "highest profile free agent." The Leafs, who originally "were not projected in the final mix of teams pursuing Babcock," will now "owe the Red Wings a third-round pick sometime in next three years in exchange" for him. Outgoing MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke "gave credit" to Leafs President Brendan Shanahan "for getting the deal done." Leiweke: "That's all Shanny, he did it. I know there were people that ultimately questioned whether or not Brendan would come in here and ultimately be a great president. ... This is a vision he had early on" (TSN.ca, 5/20). The GLOBE & MAIL's James Mirtle writes Babcock, who "chose big money," will "be given a say in personnel decisions with the Leafs as well as an out clause after five years in his contract, which is heavily front-loaded." Despite the Red Wings' "struggles" the past four seasons, Babcock "is widely regarded as the NHL’s top coach." Babcock "hinted several times in the past few weeks that he wanted a new challenge after a decade in Detroit" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/21).

HEFTY PRICE TAG: In Toronto, Mark Zwolinski reports the Sabres' offer "was believed to be" 10 years, $50M. Babcock earlier this week reportedly told the Blues that he "would pass on their offer." Babcock "was said to have prioritized an opportunity to set a new bar for NHL coaching salaries with his new contract." That opportunity -- which the Maple Leafs "scrambled to make happen in the last 24 hours -- is believed to be a leading factor in the Babcock family’s decision to leave Detroit, where they were very comfortable." The Red Wings' last offer "was said to be in the range" of five years, $20M. The Red Wings were "said to be steadfast on avoiding a bidding war" (TORONTO STAR, 5/21). The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly in a front-page piece notes the contract’s average annual wage "more than doubles the highest salary ever paid to an NHL head coach." In return for a "few coins shaken out of its war chest," MLSE has "purchased time and credibility." In exchange for the money, Babcock "has risked everything" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/21). Also in Toronto, Rosie DiManno notes MLSE committed "more moolah ... to secure Babcock behind the bench than they shelled out" buying the CFL Argonauts (TORONTO STAR, 5/21). CBSSPORTS.com's Adam Gretz wrote the Leafs "are starting to operate like a team that knows it has a massive advantage over every other team in the NHL" in terms of money (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/20).

A BIG GET FOR SHANNY: ESPN.com's Katie Strang wrote Babcock "brings stability and a high-profile face to a franchise that is on its fourth full-time coach" since '06. Landing Babcock "is a major coup for Shanahan," who played for Babcock with the Red Wings (ESPN.com, 5/20). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell wrote after all of Shanahan’s "bluster about doing things the right way, about conducting a proper, methodical and ultimately successful rebuild," the Maple Leafs went out and "were your father’s" Maple Leafs. They "got the big fish." The hire "works only if one thing has been made crystal clear" to Babcock. That is for at least the first three years of his eight-year deal, he "can probably forget about making the playoffs, that coaching this team will be painful at times and will require all the patience he can muster" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 5/20). SI.com's Allan Muir wrote Shanahan "has proved himself to be an enthusiastic agent of destruction" who has "carved a bloody swath through the organization, gutting the front office, the scouting department and the coaching staffs of the big club and the AHL Toronto Marlies." Shanahan yesterday "officially began the rebuild of the Maple Leafs." He "offered something that no other team could: a chance at hockey immortality" (SI.com, 5/20). In Toronto, Kevin McGran reports the feeling in the city "is that Shanahan is a genius." But McGran adds, "Strikes me that Shanahan wants to call the shots -- the hirings and firings are all his -- without any of the accountability -- media interviews with him are at a premium" (TORONTO STAR, 5/21). ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun wrote the hire "immediately changes the perception of the Toronto market for players around the league." It used to be a place where "many didn't want to go," but "now that has changed" (ESPN.com, 5/20). Also, in Toronto, Bruce Arthur in a front-page piece writes in a salary-cap league the Leafs "splashed the pot because they thought it was worth it, and because they could" (TORONTO STAR, 5/21).

CHALLENGES AHEAD: USA TODAY's Kevin Allen writes Babcock, an Ontario native, is undoubtedly "intrigued by becoming the coach of one the NHL's most storied franchises." The Sabres had "seemed to be the most attractive destination," but Babcock "chose to take a job where the scrutiny of his performance will be relentless and unforgiving." One of the many reasons Shanahan "wanted Babcock is that he will have no difficulty handling the pressure of coaching in Toronto." He "handles the media as well as, or better than, any coach in the NHL" (USA TODAY, 5/21). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Adam Proteau wrote Babcock "isn’t a panacea for the flaws in the Leafs organization." Babcock, who is "excellent at his job," enters the picture "knowing full well what lies ahead, and how Shanahan intends to fill the GM role." Babcock is "obviously comfortable with a non-traditional arrangement" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 5/20). NBC’s Mike Milbury, on Babcock: “He got a long-term contract and he's going to need it because there's a lot of work to be done in Toronto. But I think the thing is Brendan Shanahan has given him this opportunity knowing full well that this is not a quick fix.” NBC’s Jeremy Roenick added, "Every player waits for that free agency to make their money. It's no different with the coaches. ... These quality coaching decisions have to be made at the right time and for Mike Babcock this is an unprecedented contract. He is going to need every bit of it because the Toronto Maple Leafs are in a world of hurt" (“NHL Live,” NBCSN, 5/20).

ZERO SUM GAME: In Toronto, Steve Simmons writes under the header, "Toronto Finally Experiences An Actual Good Day In The Sporting World." In the city that "wins forgot, hope had replaced mope in and around Toronto." Against "all odds and against all reason, the Maple Leafs won something" yesterday, when at least for one day, one moment, "everything seemed right with the rather uneven, historically dysfunctional Maple Leafs" (TORONTO SUN, 5/21). However, the GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts writes under the header, "Babcock’s Hiring Steals The Argos’ Thunder, Anger Ensues." On one of the biggest days in Argos history, when it was "about to get out from under the ownership of David Braley," the Babcock hiring was announced. Lightning "struck not long into the Argo news conference," just as Leiweke "was answering a question about football tearing" up the BMO Field grass. Leiweke "tossed the Babcock ball" to MLSE Chair Larry Tanenbaum, "who confirmed the news and tried to swing everyone back to the Argos" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/21). 

Holland had prepared for the moment
when Babcock would leave the team
WINGIN' IT: In Detroit, Jeff Seidel reports less than five hours after he learned that Babcock was leaving, Red Wings GM Ken Holland "did not look shaken, in part, because this process played out over several days." Holland: "We aren't going to fold the franchise." Seidel: "I don't get the sense that many fans are too broken up about Babcock leaving" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/21). Holland said, “I've been in this sport a long time. One of the things that I said to Mike, anytime you're an unrestricted free agent, in the prime of your career, there's going to be opportunities that probably will stagger you. I use the word stagger because I'm aware of what the industry pays, but in order sometimes to get people, you've got to go above and beyond the industry standards to get what you want. Superstar players don't make that amount of money" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/21). Also in Detroit, Mitch Albom in a front-page piece asks, “Are you really going to fault the Wings here? What did they do wrong -- except act decently to a long-term employee?” The “only thing Holland and the Wings could have done differently would have been this: They could have held Babcock to the letter of his current deal, forbade him from talking to any other teams.” But Holland said, “I don't believe that's how you treat someone who's done for us (what he did) for 10 years. … We have a relationship. He's tried to make our organization better” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/21). The GLOBE & MAIL's Mirtle writes Babcock's tenure with the Red Wings amounted to "a good marriage, but by head coach standards, it had also been an incredibly long one, longer than any other team-coach relationship in the league" (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/21).

SABRES RATTLED? In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan in a front-page piece writes under the header, “Losing Babcock To Toronto Definitely Hurts.” Babcock to the Leafs was a “stunning development,” as the hockey world “had Babcock virtually signed, sealed and delivered” to the Sabres late Tuesday. Just when fans thought Sabres Owner Terry Pegula “was going to win another fight with Toronto, Babcock jumped over the border.” This is a “crushing blow for Pegula and Co.,” and shows that Pegula’s money “can’t buy everything” (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/21). Also in Buffalo, John Vogl notes the Sabres thought they were “in the driver’s seat” for Babcock. A source said that contract negotiations “had gone well, with folks inside the organization feeling for two days that it was close to a done deal.” A source said that the Sabres “never entered a bidding war with the Leafs.” They were “confident of their offer and waited for Babcock’s answer” (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/21). The BUFFALO NEWS’ Mike Harrington in a front-page piece writes at this stage in the Sabres' history, they “need a coach committed to The Plan,” and exactly what the Sabres “don't need is a guy who came here only for the money.” This is “not a massive defeat for the Sabres at all,” as they “went head-long into a big-money derby and, by any measure, did all they could to get Babcock.” Harrington: “You offer to make someone the highest-paid coach in NHL history and he doesn't come, that's on him” (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/21).

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