WATCH ABOVE: Brendan Shanahan welcomes Mike Babcock as 30th head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs have ushered in the new Mike Babcock era: he was officially introduced as the team’s new head coach Thursday morning.
READ MORE: Can Mike Babcock turn the Leafs into a winner?
The Leafs surprised many by announcing the acquisition of the highly sought after National Hockey League coach on Wednesday.
WATCH ABOVE: Mike Babcock: I look forward to the process, the battle, the pain, and the journey
Babcock, 52, told the packed news conference in the foyer of the Air Canada Centre that he embraces the job ahead.
“I came here with my eyes wide open,” he said.
Babcock made it clear that he is aware of the size of the task ahead and would have no problems operating in the fishbowl that surrounds the Leafs franchise.
“This is going to be a massive, massive challenge,” he said.
Babcock was rumoured to be in negotiations with the Buffalo Sabres, the San Jose Sharks and the possibility of returning to Detroit.
Babcock has reportedly agreed to a lucrative eight-year contract worth $50 million, which would make him the highest-paid coach in the league.
The coach called the mega-deal the Leafs’ commitment to success.
“They’ve made a long-term commitment to me… In turn, I’ve made a long-term commitment to the Leafs and our plan is to grow the team,” he said.
After spending ten years at the helm of the Detroit Red Wings, Babcock arrives to a Toronto team that has missed the playoffs in nine of the past ten years.
His credentials are blue-chip. His record in Detroit was 458-223-105 and the Wings made the playoffs every year on his watch.
His overall NHL record is 950-527-285.
The Saskatoon-raised Babcock, who is married with three kids, won the Stanley Cup in 2007-08 and led Canada to gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, the 2004 world championships and 1997 world junior championship.
He is portrayed as a well-prepared coach who communicates what he wants and doesn’t like it if it doesn’t get it.
READ MORE: Maple Leafs back on track with Babcock hiring: Gretzky
Babcock won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008, went to the final in 2003 with Anaheim and in 2009 with the Red Wings and captured two Olympic gold medals for Canada.
The coach takes over a 30-44-8 Leafs team that finished 27th in the league this season.
With files from The Canadian Press
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