Name: Mike Babcock opens up about being fired by Maple Leafs
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Mike Babcock opens up about being fired by Maple Leafs

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Jan 19, 2021 is stepping back into the hockey spotlight on Sunday, though not in the way he was accustomed to for 30-plus years.In fact, it’s the first time in 33 years Babcock isn’t behind the bench as a coach.The time away from the game has been “spectacular,’’ Babcock said. He and his wife Maureen travelled last year before COVID stopped the world and have since enjoyed spending time with their three grown kids.“We’ve had an unbelievable time to tell you the truth, and really embraced the opportunity to enjoy life,’’ Babcock said Tuesday.Babcock, 57, also had a blast helping out with University of Vermont hockey coach Todd Woodcroft. “Coaching the coaches,’’ is how Babcock described his volunteer gig.He’s now looking forward to his new part-time gig with NBC starting Sunday, his re-entry into the spotlight after being fired by the last season. It’s also why he is breaking his silence, agreeing to his first interview since his dismissal in November 2019. The timing is finally right.“I had planned in my mind that I was going to take a year away (from the media spotlight), that I wasn’t going to talk,’’ Babcock said.A year stretched into 14 months as the NHL delayed its 2020-21 season.“Now the season is going and I’m going to do a few games with NBC, I thought it was important to talk before I did that. So that’s what I’m doing. And clear any air that needs to be cleared.’’There is indeed air that needs to be cleared.In the wake of his firing last season, a story surfaced in the Toronto Sun that Babcock had asked Mitch Marner, during the forward’s rookie season, to rank his teammates’ work ethic and the Leafs coach later shared the list with the players.“Yeah, that’s not how that happened, actually,’’ Babcock said. “I was working with Lou (Lamoriello) at that time, we made it very clear our No. 1 priority was to make sure these young guys, Mitch, Matty (), were going to be the best pros they can be at 23, 24. And turn them into the hardest working, best players they can possibly be.“So Mitch was in my office. We were talking about work ethic. I asked him where he ranked on the scale. And that was no problem, that was just a private thing. It was a good meeting, Mitch left. But then I was meeting, I’m pretty sure it was with (Tyler) Bozak, afterward. Bozy was an important part of our team. What I ended up doing — and I made a big-time mistake, I knew as soon as I did it — when we were talking about competing and I said, ‘Well look where Mitch ranks it.’“Well, as soon as I did that, and he saw the list, I knew that I had made a major mistake. After the meeting with Bozak, I went right into the dressing room. I grabbed Mitch and said, ‘Mitch, this is what I did. I screwed you here.’’’Babcock said he offered right then and there to Marner to air out the coach’s mistake with the team. Marner declined. But for those who said Babcock went into the dressing room and posted Marner’s list up for all to see, that’s not true, Babcock said.“Now, in saying that though, what I should have done in hindsight, I should have stopped everybody and said, ‘This is what I did to Mitch. I screwed him.’ Now, he didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. But I could have made a lesser deal of it,’’’ Babcock said.“But (for) anyone to think Mitch Marner and Mike Babcock didn’t have a relationship, or Mitch didn’t play great for me or anything like that, that’s sadly mistaken.’’Babcock said when he confirmed to Darren Dreger and Elliotte Friedman that the Marner incident had indeed occurred, he didn’t realize the version of it that was out there.“The story wasn’t right,’’ Babcock said. “In the end, though, you do lots of things over 32 years as a coach that you’d like to have back. Have you ever had a conversation with your wife when two words come out of your mouth and you’d like to reach with your arms and pull the words back?“It’s human nature. In the heat of hockey, there’s lots of things said. But you try to create an environment that’s good. When you look at Mitch Marner and the time he spent with Mike Babcock, Mitch Marner was a player. We had a good relationship.’’When the incident happened, Babcock said he talked to Lamoriello and Mark Hunter.“When this went wrong, I talked to Lou a ton about it, and I talked to Mark Hunter about it, and the way to handle it the best,’’ Babcock said.“And there’s no question that it was all on me. Not on Mitch. It was all on me. I made a mistake. My fault.’’The Marner story was followed by allegations from Johan Franzen, who played for Babcock in Detroit and whose career ended prematurely because of post-concussion syndrome.It began with former defenceman Chris Chelios going on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast and alleging that Babcock had verbally assaulted Franzen during a playoff series against Nashville. Franzen, in a subsequent interview with Swedish newspaper Expressen, called Babcock a “great coach,” but a “terrible person” and a “bully,” saying he suffered from verbal attacks from the coach.Former Red Wings GM Ken Holland was asked by the Detroit Free Press last December if a player had ever come to him and accused Babcock of verbal abuse. Holland said no.But obviously, Babcock was aware of what Franzen said.“(Franzen) had unbelievable years in Detroit,’’ Babcock said. “He was a big man with great hands. When he first came here, we thought he was a checker and he turned himself into an unbelievable player.“When a player that you’ve coached says that about you, it stings you big time. But not only does it sting for that, if you’ve been involved with mental health like I have …’”Babcock has been an advocate for mental health awareness, beginning after a young man his family knew in Saskatchewan took his own life. Over the years, Babcock has lent his voice to the cause, participating in the Bell Let’s Talk campaign. So to have Franzen feel that way about him, it hurt deeply.“Can you imagine having someone say that about you when you have been involved in mental health as much as I have? Now, I’ve reached out to (Franzen). That’s not going to make anything go away.“It doesn’t matter what I perceive. When you’re talking about this kind of thing, if the person — whether it’s a co-worker, your spouse, your student — if they think that’s the environment, that’s what they’re feeling. Now, I sure wish I would have known about that then. And I could have done something about that. Besides apologize, there’s not much I can do about that now. But does it sting? Does it hurt? Absolutely.’’It’s one thing having players sour with him as a coach because of playing time or being scratched. That’s all part of the game. But when it comes to the suggestion of mental abuse…“Nothing can hurt you more than something like this,’’ he said.“Your whole plan as a coach, and your plan as a parent, is to provide the best opportunity for everyone to be the best they can be,”&nbsp; Babcock added. “And that’s what you do to have success. And you can’t have success year after year in any league without a good environment. It just doesn’t happen.“So when something like this comes out, that hurts you. And it should. No one ever wants to be perceived that way. I can think of nothing worse than one of my kids going through something that they feel would be like this.’’Coaches routinely tweak their approach between jobs. I asked Babcock if he would change his coaching style if he was ever back behind an NHL bench.“Yeah, I think what you do in the offseason every year is you try to re-invent yourself, I really believe that, both technically, tactically, and also as a human being,’’ he said. “You try to surround yourself with the best people you can. But I think in today’s world, having a good sports psych person or someone besides yourself that is looking at the whole situation and can say, ‘Hey, it’s off the tracks here. It’s not as good here as you think.’’’Babcock paused, before adding: “I love players. Do I push them hard? Absolutely. But in saying that, do you want to cross the line with them? At no time ever.’’Will Babcock coach again in the NHL?“I don’t know the answer to that,’’ Babcock said. “It’s got to be the right fit. But I’ve stayed busy. My interaction with NHL coaches has been spectacular. It’s unbelievable. And I’ve talked to a number of managers, so that’s been a lot of fun.“I don’t know what’s next. But I do know there’s a shortened season here, everybody’s got a coach, the chance of me coaching in the NHL this year is very, very slim.’’The Maple Leafs owe Babcock $5.875 million a year until his eight-year contract expires on June 30, 2023.So he certainly doesn’t have to coach again for financial reasons. But he still loves the game.He was interviewed for the coaching vacancy in the offseason, along with Gerard Gallant and . Capitals GM Brian MacLellan ultimately hired Laviolette.So for now, he’s got three games lined up with his NBC gig, just getting his feet wet with that part of the industry.“It will be interesting,” Babcock said. “I’ve been watching games and preparing for my three games. That will be fun to go in and see if you like it, and whether you’re any good at it.’’The NHL plans to return to Olympic participation next year in Beijing. Doug Armstrong is expected to be the GM for Team Canada.And before I can even finish getting the question out of my mouth, Babcock jumped in.“That’ll be unbelievable for someone, eh?’’ he said.Babcock coached Canada to Olympic gold in 2010 and 2014 and to the World Cup title in 2016. He absolutely loved coaching Team Canada in those events, not to mention having also coached Canada to world junior gold in 1997 and world championship gold in 2004. The are extra special but he feels it’s time for someone new to lead them.“It’s someone else’s turn,” said Babcock. “I can turn around right now in my place here and I can look at those championship pictures with everyone gathered around. It’s something you’re going to remember for the rest of your life. To be an Olympian, to have had success, to represent your country, and the relationships you built with all those coaches and managers, spectacular.“But also, we’ve got lots of great coaches in the NHL. Someone is going to get a chance and it’s going to be the thrill of their lifetime. What a responsibility at the same time, but what an opportunity.”(Top photo: Tom Szczerbowski / USA TODAY Sport)

Jan 19, 2021 is stepping back into the hockey spotlight on Sunday, though not in the way he was accustomed to for 30-plus years.In fact, it’s the first time in 33 years Babcock isn’t behind the bench as a coach.The time away from the game has been “spectacular,’’ Babcock said. He and his wife Maureen travelled last year before COVID stopped the world and have since enjoyed spending time with their three grown kids.“We’ve had an unbelievable time to tell you the truth, and really embraced the opportunity to enjoy life,’’ Babcock said Tuesday.Babcock, 57, also had a blast helping out with...

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Mike Babcock opens up about being fired by Maple Leafs

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