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July 14, 2005
DETROIT (AP) -- Mike Babcock has agreed to become coach of the Detroit Red Wings, team spokesman John Hahn said Thursday.
The former Anaheim coach will be introduced at a news conference Friday morning.
Babcock, who last week rejected an offer to stay with the Mighty Ducks, replaces Dave Lewis, whose contract wasn't renewed.
The 42-year-old Babcock led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup finals two years ago during his first season in Anaheim. They didn't make the playoffs in 2003-04, and last season was canceled because of the lockout. The Ducks were 69-76-19 in two years under Babcock.
Before being hired as the Ducks' coach, Babcock coached at Cincinnati of the AHL, an affiliate of Anaheim and Detroit. He guided the team to the playoffs both his years there, and to a franchise-high 41 wins and 95 points in 2000-01.
Babcock takes over during a time of transition for the NHL and Detroit.
The Red Wings of the past decade -- a team full of skilled superstars with high profiles and even higher paychecks -- will be vastly different when they return to the ice.
An agreement reached Wednesday to end the lockout features a salary cap with a ceiling approaching $40 million and a minimum somewhere between $20 million and $25 million.
Considering the Red Wings expected a payroll in the $60 million range for the canceled 2004-05 season, it's safe to assume they will need to make some personnel changes.
Detroit is expected to look to younger players like Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler. Jiri Fischer and Niklas Kronwall will be key defensemen, possibly replacing players like Derian Hatcher and Chris Chelios.
Babcock will be asked to develop the team's youthful stars while putting a charge into the remaining veterans.
DETROIT (AP) -- Mike Babcock has agreed to become coach of the Detroit Red Wings, team spokesman John Hahn said Thursday.
The former Anaheim coach will be introduced at a news conference Friday morning.
Babcock, who last week rejected an offer to stay with the Mighty Ducks, replaces Dave Lewis, whose contract wasn't renewed.
The 42-year-old Babcock led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup finals two years ago during his first season in Anaheim. They didn't make the playoffs in 2003-04, and last season was canceled because of the lockout. The Ducks were 69-76-19 in two years under Babcock.
Before being hired as the Ducks' coach, Babcock coached at Cincinnati of the AHL, an affiliate of Anaheim and Detroit. He guided the team to the playoffs both his years there, and to a franchise-high 41 wins and 95 points in 2000-01.
Babcock takes over during a time of transition for the NHL and Detroit.
The Red Wings of the past decade -- a team full of skilled superstars with high profiles and even higher paychecks -- will be vastly different when they return to the ice.
An agreement reached Wednesday to end the lockout features a salary cap with a ceiling approaching $40 million and a minimum somewhere between $20 million and $25 million.
Considering the Red Wings expected a payroll in the $60 million range for the canceled 2004-05 season, it's safe to assume they will need to make some personnel changes.
Detroit is expected to look to younger players like Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Jiri Hudler. Jiri Fischer and Niklas Kronwall will be key defensemen, possibly replacing players like Derian Hatcher and Chris Chelios.
Babcock will be asked to develop the team's youthful stars while putting a charge into the remaining veterans.