Babcock More Concerned With Longevity Than Honor

Add this to the list of firsts for Mighty Duck Coach Mike Babcock this season.

The first question about whether he will win the Adams Trophy, given to the NHL’s coach of the year. Babcock seemed ready for it

“I just wanted to be the coach for the year,” Babcock said after Friday’s morning skate.

Good point. The Ducks have had three coaches in the last two seasons and five in the last six. The Babcocks, though, can probably unpack the good china now.

But Babcock probably will receive a significant chunk of coach of the year votes after the Ducks’ tremendous leap this season from the lower regions of the Western Conference to seventh place. Such talk makes Babcock nervous, as he would prefer the focus be on the players.

“When your players have success, you have a chance for success,” Babcock said. “I’m not the one out there scoring power-play goals.”

*

One thing Babcock has learned is when to express his displeasure with officiating.

“Every time play stops I’m there on TV,” Babcock joked. “My kids go to Catholic school and have to explain why their dad talks like that. I learned to say things while the play is going.”

Babcock has a long way to go to be the most animated coach I Duck history.

“I’ve played for worse,” team captain Paul Kariya said. “I think there are still some of Craig [Hartsburg’s] heel prints on the boards along our bench.”

*

Defenseman Ruslan Salei missed Friday’s game because of a lower back strain.... Defenseman Keith Carney’s wife, Amy, gave birth to their daughter, Morgan Grace Carney, on Thursday.