Mike Babcock, head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, and arguably the best coach in the league today, has signed a four year contract extension. This deal will keep Babcock with the Wings through the 2014-15 season.
Babcock, who began coaching the Red Wings in 2005, has had quite a successful coaching career in the NHL. He began with the Anaheim Ducks, leading them to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals in his first year as coach. He also coached the Red Wings to the finals in 2008, in which they won the Stanley Cup, and again in 2009 where the lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In addition to his NHL success, Babcock coached Team Canada to a Gold Medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
While he has been with the Wings, Babcock has delivered an overall 259-101-52 record. In addition, he was announced as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 2008, and named the NHL coach of the decade by Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News.
This contract extension is huge for the Red Wings, who are hoping to continue their playoff traditions and remain one of the NHL’s most elite franchises. With Babcock behind the bench, and key players such as Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Franzen all locked up for much of that time, it shouldn’t be too hard to build a great squad for years to come.
