Mike Babcock linked with a return to one of his former teams
It's been nearly four years since Mike Babcock has been behind the bench in the National Hockey League, but it appears that we're getting closer and closer to his return.
In recent weeks, Babcock's name has been linked to the vacancies with the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed that there's a possibility he could return to where his NHL coaching career began - the Anaheim Ducks.
Babcock, 60, spent the first two seasons of his NHL coaching career with the Anaheim Ducks, known as the Mighty Ducks back then, after being promoted in May 2002 from their AHL affiliate at the time, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. In his first season with the club, he helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost in seven games to the New Jersey Devils.
In his second year, Anaheim took a significant step back and missed the playoffs after finishing fourth in the Pacific Division. Following the lockout in 2004-05, Babcock declined a contract extension with the Ducks and went on to become Head Coach of the Detroit Red Wings.
| POLL | ||
Who will Mike Babcock end up with next season? | ||
| Anaheim Ducks | 64 | 18.7 % |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 50 | 14.6 % |
| New York Rangers | 46 | 13.4 % |
| Won't be in the NHL | 183 | 53.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
