Toronto, Canada---Mike Babcock, who has been one of the most successful coaches at the NHL and international level for the past decade, was hired as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday
Babcock coached the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup title in 2008 and led Canada to back-to-back Olympic gold medals in Vancouver in 2010 and four years later in Sochi. He is the only coach in history to earn consecutive Olympic golds.
Babcock will become the 30th head coach in the club's history, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan announced Wednesday.
Canadian sports network TSN reported that the 52-year-old Babcock has agreed to an eight-year contract worth close to $50 million which would make him by far the highest paid head coach in the history of the league.
Babcock was involved in talks with several teams over the past week before deciding to join the Leafs. He replaces Randy Carlyle who was fired in January.
Besides winning the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings, he guided Detroit back to the finals in 2009. He also took Anaheim to the Stanley Cup final in 2003.
He is Detroit's all-time leader in regular-season coaching wins after compiling a 458-223-105 record. Babcock ranks second in team history with 67 playoff wins.
Shanahan and Babcock share some history as Shanahan played for the Red Wings during the 2005-06 season.
AFP
