In Emotional Farewell, Babcock Says He Went Back And Forth A Hundred Times Before Choosing Toronto Over Detroit
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
DETROIT - As Mike Babcock gave a farewell press conference in the dressing room at Joe Louis Arena, he clutched in his hands a newspaper dated July 20, 2005, and a photo of him, Steve Yzerman and Gordie Howe.
The longtime Detroit Red Wings head coach, who decided Wednesday to leave Detroit and take the same job with the Toronto Maple Leafs, struggled to keep his emotions in check as he stood for the last time in front of a Red Wings backdrop in the room where he had coached for a decade.
"It's been real special, to say the least," Babcock said, his voice breaking here and there, pausing occasionally as he looked down at his hands. "The Ilitches afforded my family to grow up here, to let my kids go to school, finish high school here, and as you can see, just as I talked - emotionally involved with the franchise and with the city and with the people, and it gives me great pride for what we were able to accomplish here.
"My decision to leave is my decision," Babcock added, then smiled. "My wife wanted me to make that clear, it's not on her. My decision totally. It was about a new opportunity and a new challenge. Very proud of the years here."
Babcock thanked everyone, from the Ilitch family who owns the team, to the front office, to the stadium workers, to the legendary Red Wings players who still come around, to the current players, to the media.
Rarely does a coach who voluntarily leaves hold a press conference with the local media of his former team. Once Babcock began speaking, it became clear why he requested that opportunity. He wanted to say thank you. He wanted some closure.
The coach referred to the press conference as a "purging moment."
Many believed Babcock's decision was solely about money; the Maple Leafs gave him a reported contract of $50 million over eight years. To hear the coach explain his decision, it was not so simple. He talked extensively with Red Wings general manager Ken Holland as he tried to figure out what he should do.
"I went back and forth 100 times, probably wore Kenny out being a pain in the butt," Babcock said. "I know I wore my family out. It was gut-wrenching, and yet it's - as much as it's emotional for me right here today, right now talking to you, I said yesterday, I was like I was 25. I was jacked up and scared to death. We'll see. Only time will tell, but I believe you put your foot on the gas and you go get it, and that's what we're going to do."
The Red Wings reportedly offered Babcock $4 million per year over five years.
"Money, to a certain level, is an important thing," Babcock acknowledged. "I worked real hard, going into this negotiation period. I looked at every NBA coach, every NFL coach, I went through, I did all this work, didn't use any of it. I didn't because in the end - the Ilitches were fantastic to me. It's not I was going to be on food stamps to live here. Give me a break. They looked after me big-time. They made it hard.
"Is it about money? Sure it's about money," Babcock continued. "But there was enough money in every place it didn't have a factor in the decision."
The coach repeatedly noted that he wanted a new opportunity. Given he had seriously considered staying with the Red Wings, however, Babcock explained when the tide turned in favor of pursuing that kind of situation rather than staying in Detroit.
"I phoned Shanny [Toronto team president Brendan Shanahan] at 11:30 [Wednesday], I was still sitting in Kenny's house," Babcock said. "When his wife gave me a hug and went to church to pray for me, I think that's what tilted it right there, because I needed some help there. That night, I had made my decision up, talked to my wife and my kids before I went to bed. My daughter, of course, left a project 'til the last minute; the printer went off at 3:30. I was wide awake. It was next to my room.
"Stayed up for the next three hours, texted Kenny in the morning, asked if I could come and see him," Babcock added. "So it was a hard process."
Babcock said staying in Detroit would have been an easier choice. He spoke highly about the direction of the Red Wings organization.
"I'm jealous already because Luke Glendening and Helmer and Abby and DeKeyser and these guys that are all in, they're everydayers, there's a good group, but I had been here 10 years," Babcock said, then shuffled the items in his hands and produced a newspaper clipping and a photo. "I dug it out here today, I'm going through, I'm cleaning out my office, there it is - that's my first day on the job. There's Stevie and Gordie [Steve Yzerman and Gordie Howe].
"I've been here a long friggin' time, and they're probably tired of me," Babcock added. "I just thought for me, myself, for the energy level that I would feel, I think change is an exciting thing."
Throughout his 25-minute press conference, Babcock repeatedly expressed appreciation to everyone in the Red Wings organization, and he ended his remarks on the same note.
"Ten great years here," Babcock said. "I'm indebted forever to the Ilitches and Mr. Holland and to the players, to the captains I had here, unbelievable men ... It's been special. Thank you."
