It appears as if Mike Babcock has found his next head coaching job but it won’t be in the NHL or the professional ranks at all, for that matter. Instead, the veteran bench boss has been named the head coach of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada’s college ranks, per a release from the school. He received a two-year deal on a volunteer basis.
Babcock has been looking for a new coaching opportunity since being fired by Toronto midway through last season with Sheldon Keefe taking over and had been doing some television work for NBC this season. Now, it’s a return back to his roots as Babcock is from Saskatoon, played for the school back in 1981-82, and received an honorary degree from them back in 2016.
The 57-year-old is one of only eight head coaches in NHL history to record 700 career wins and has spent parts of 17 seasons behind the bench. He’s also quite decorated internationally and is the only member of the ’Triple Gold’ club among coaches (Olympics, World Championships, and a Stanley Cup). However, he didn’t receive any serious consideration for the vacancies that existed over the offseason. He’s still receiving his full $5.875MM salary from Toronto until his contract with them runs out following the 2022-23 season (the same time this contract ends) and now will be able to work closer to home for the time being although Babcock will have to wait for next season to start as the U SPORTS season was cancelled back in October.
TSN’s Darren Dreger was the first to report the hiring.
Gotta getr’ goin’.
They paying his 6’million salary?
Nope.
Really you sure
hopefully this doesn’t end up in another Mitch Marner situation
These poor kids have no Idea what they’re signing up for. Recruiting will be a tough job at this school
It’s CIS it won’t be tough at all. Generally players in CIS are former junior players who went unsigned or undrafted or players who couldn’t stick with an ECHL team. They are looking to prolong their window to play competitive hockey and get an education while they’re at it. There are a few, not many, who are looking to stand out so they can parlay it into an AHL or NHL opportunity, but not many. Babcock will do two things right off the bat – ensure the team is competitive and put some extra eyes on the team and raise their profile. These things right of the bat will satisfy many of the criteria for Canadian university players. It is completely unlike NCAA.
I appreciate your completely logical and intelligent answer. Also nice to see someone not jumping on the hate bandwagon of one of the best coaches in nhl history. Didn’t do well with the leafs, made some mistakes, so has everyone. Let’s get over it(especially leafs fans).
With the increased scrutiny on how any Educational Professional engages students in a post-secondary environment this will be a better learning experience for Babcock than his players.
Likely any abusive ‘anything’ will be crushed.
I feel like this will be a “Babcock sensitivity training” course.
Way to go Babs returning home to give back to the Province. Like others on here that bring u down I would certainly think that recruiting players will be easy because young men would love to play for yah. Remember all.. these are not millionaire players they play for their school and yes their coach….Thanks Babs for getting back into coaching…
The way he is reported to have treated several Wings players in particular I would want him nowhere near college athletes.
Awww cos your feeling would be hurt? Prob why you still live in parents basement
Cleary mrmet’s feelings are hurt because he’s the one lashing out. Typical conservative snowflake.
“mrmet6141” Wow you are clearly…. well clearly misinformed.
Look up Mike Commodore and his interview opinions on Babcock.
Tell me if Commodore is a millennial snowflake or someone who Babcock f–k-d around because he’s an all around -rsh-l-.
It was with many players, like Franzen, Chelios, Weiss etc. Weiss was solid in FL and Babcock screwed with him after recruiting him to sign as a FA. There is a reason Detroit could only attract free agents like Neilson when Babcock was there.
For the 2nd time in his life Babcock will replace Dave Adolph as coach of a university team. Adolph built the University of Lethbridge team that won a national championship. It was the first time U of L ever made the playoffs and Babcock took them to the title. The University of Saskatchewan is a hockey powerhouse. Recruitment wont be an issue. Babcock is volunteering to coach because taking a salary would reduce the outstanding amount the leafs would owe him as per the NHL standard coaching contract.
I’m huge leaf fan and sure wonder how Babs would be doing now since Dubas finally started adding a little more Sandpaper to play
It’s was the trade deadline when they added Petan that was his falling out with management and I don’t blame him