Maple Leafs hire Red Wings coach Mike Babcock
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, the team announced Wednesday.
TSN's Darren Dreger first reported the hiring. The Leafs gave Babcock a contract worth around $50 million over eight years, according to Dreger.
Babcock's contract with the Red Wings expires in June. The Sabres, Maple Leafs, Blues and Sharks all formally filed for permission to speak with the coach.
Babcock had coached the Red Wings since the 2005-06 season. In his time on Detroit's bench, Babcock led the team to one Stanley Cup title and another Stanley Cup final appearance. He also took the Red Wings to the postseason in all 10 seasons he coached the team.
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Prior to arriving in Detroit, Babcock coached Anaheim for two seasons, taking the team to the Stanley Cup final in his first year with the team in 2002-03.
The Leafs finished 30-44-8 last season, failing to make the postseason for the eighth time in the last nine years. Toronto fired coach Randy Carlyle in January, and the team fired GM Dave Nonis and interim coach Peter Horachek in April.
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