Babcock’s Style Isn’t Lost in Move

Mike Babcock’s job is the same. So are his hours, long days spent searching for an idea, a plan, an opponent’s weakness.

“For me, coaching is coaching,” he said, shrugging.

But his address has changed from Anaheim, a member of the NHL’s Original 26, to Detroit, an Original Six team that has spawned generations of devoted followers of the winged wheel. Many of whom apparently mistook Staples Center for a more-expensive Joe Louis Arena on Thursday and made their presence heard during the Red Wings’ 5-2 victory over the Kings.

Three Stanley Cup championships since 1996-97 elevated fans’ expectations faster than the Red Wings raised their payroll, which hit $78 million in 2003-04. Bound now by the NHL’s $39-million salary cap, the Red Wings are learning how the other half built rosters. It might be a bumpy road, but Babcock doesn’t fear the journey.

He has taken teams labeled one-dimensional and gotten more out of them than they knew they had, and out of others, less than they should have produced. He was unstinting in his demands and praise when he took the Mighty Ducks to the 2003 Stanley Cup finals, but he couldn’t guide them back to the playoffs the next season. He offers no excuses; to his new job in Detroit, where he said, “the passion for hockey is [number] one, not four,” he brings the same determination.

“The weather’s different,” he said, “and my kids had to get coats and socks. Obviously, any time you move it’s a change. More than for myself, for my family.

“It’s early in the year, and I think everybody would tell you they’re trying to figure out not only the game but where you fit in the game.”

He didn’t fit in Anaheim after Brian Burke was hired as general manager, no matter that Babcock said he thought he’d stay after they’d chatted and Burke offered him a one-year contract. Burke wanted his coach, which is his prerogative. Babcock wanted more security and got it in Detroit in a three-year deal.

“From everything I hear, it sounds like Burkie’s done a real good job,” Babcock said. “He has a team that can really skate. I’m happy and I think he’s probably happy and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

He will never completely sever his ties with the Ducks. On the wall of his office in Detroit hangs a picture of the Duck team that lost the seventh game of the finals to New Jersey. He also has “that trophy, whatever they give you for second place.”

Second place is not acceptable in Detroit. To restore the Red Wings’ glory will be difficult with aging Chris Chelios, uncertain goaltending and a less physical presence than they’ve had in years.

With a veteran team, he doesn’t have to teach them how to play. “I don’t think you teach people in Anaheim how to play the game either,” he said. “What you have to do is come up with a plan that you’re all going to play together, and in Anaheim we were able to do that absolutely magnificently the first year there, and I thought we fell short of that my second year there.”

If the Red Wings fall short this season, it won’t be for lack of effort by Babcock. For two years they played for Dave Lewis, the longtime assistant coach who played the good cop role to Scotty Bowman’s weird cop. Players considered Lewis a pal, not an authority figure. They won’t make that mistake with Babcock.

“I don’t think any of us have beaten him to the rink yet,” forward Kris Draper said. “He brings a lot of intensity, a lot of energy to the rink.

“This year, probably more than ever, this team needed to use training camp to get familiar with new faces and new rules. Mike’s a competitor. He wants to win and that’s exactly what he wants us to do.”

Babcock will face the Ducks in Detroit on Oct. 21 and will return to Anaheim on Nov. 25.

“I know that will be a big day for me personally. Not because of anything than the fact that I’m proud I worked in Anaheim, and when I was there they had the best year in their franchise history, and I don’t think anyone could argue that,” he said. “It was one of the best rides I’ve ever been on....

“I don’t care who you are, when you win with people you have a bond with them. I think, in your mind, forever.”