On the Wings

TSN reports that Mike Babcock has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy along with Washington’s Bruce Boudreau and Montreal’s Guy Carbonneau.

Although Boudreau is the likely winner, I’m thrilled that Babs is getting the recognition he deserves after three years as the Wings’ coach. A lot of coaches would kill to have the personnel Babcock has on every unit, but I don’t think that’s a knock against him at all.

The fact is, what he’s done so far has been remarkable. Babcock has changed the face of Red Wings hockey in a big way by instilling a team mentality. The team’s veterans brought up through the Bowman and Lewis years have bought into Babcock’s system wholesale. Babcock’s team dispel stereotypes about soft European Red Wings every game.

In addition to adjusting the team’s mentality, he’s done done a tremendous job of maximizing the potential of individual forgotten players such as Dan Cleary and Mikael Samuelsson.

There are times where we fans disagree with some of Babcock’s personnel decisions, but overall, there is very little negative to say about the guy and a whole lot of positive. I’d love to see him win coach of the year, for sure.