Babcock: Firing ‘a kick in the gut’ for MacLean

Mike Babcock is the new coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Paul MacLean’s NHL coaching career — now on indefinite hiatus — began under head coach Mike Babcock.

MacLean served as an assistant coach under Babcock for three seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, then Babcock brought MacLean with him to Detroit when he landed the Red Wings job. The two men would work side by side for another six years and share a Stanley Cup victory in 2008.

So it’s no surprise Babcock sympathizes with his friend, who was the first NHL coach fired this season.

“Anytime you get fired, it’s a kick in the gut and you’ve got to get back to feeling good about who you are and get ready for your next opportunity,” Babcock told Brady & Walker of Sportsnet The Fan 590 Wednesday. “Mac’s a good coach. He works hard. He went to Ottawa with a plan and did a real nice job there.”


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MacLean’s dismissal is different than most coach firings for Babcock personally.

“I always side with the coach, [but Senators general manager] Bryan Murray is a real good friend of mine as well. These are hard decisions for people, and when ownership is involved, that can make it even more difficult,” Babcock said.

“Mac’s got a little more free time at Christmas than he probably wanted, but I’m sure he’ll enjoy his family.”


LISTEN: Babcock talks about the Red Wings’ success, Stephen Weiss’s progress and his club’s health issues


Babcock said his wife showed him the clip of the woman bursting into MacLean’s press conference Tuesday to profess her support. The Red Wings coach got a chuckle out of the scene, particularly how MacLean handled it with a quip about the woman not being his daughter.

“There’s always detractors,” Babcock said, “but there’s the odd one that doesn’t mind you.”

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