Red Wings, Babcock agree to three-year extension
DETROIT — Mike Babcock is returning to the bench for the Detroit Red Wings.
Babcock and the Stanley Cup-winning team agreed to a three-year contract, a league source told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the team planned an 11 a.m. Wednesday news conference to announce the deal. The Red Wings announced plans for a news conference, but didn’t release details.
Both Babcock and the Red Wings expected to reach an agreement shortly after the season ended last week with Detroit’s win at Pittsburgh, where the team hoisted the Stanley Cup.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said during the finals. “We just have a couple details to fix.”
General manager Ken Holland agreed.
“As soon as the season is over, we’ll get it done,” Holland has said. “I think it’ll only take a meeting or two to put the finishing touches on it.”
Babcock led Detroit to a title in his third season in charge after helping the franchise earn the most points in the regular season for the second time in three years. The team tied for the most points in the league during Babcock’s second season, then lost in the Western Conference final.
Babcock is a finalist for the Adams Award, which goes to the coach recognized as the best in the NHL each season.
He was hired from Anaheim to replace Dave Lewis, who was not offered a new contract when the NHL resumed play three years ago following the lockout.
“It’s been really good deal for me, and I hope it’s been good for them,” Babcock said earlier this month. “We’ve won a lot of games.
“We live in a great spot and my family is really happy here. We’re around great people at home and here at the rink, where we work for a great people and a great owner.”
The third season of Babcock’s deal will coincide with his oldest child’s senior year in high school.
Babcock’s coaching style has proven to be a perfect fit for the Red Wings, who have learned to drive to the net, compete for pucks in the corners and finish checks all over the ice.
“Everyone said we weren’t tough or physical enough,” goaltender Chris Osgood said during the playoffs. “He’s instilled in us the need to play physical and for everybody to play stronger.”
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