Babcock preparing for a move to the Canadiens?
By Serge Vleminckx
Will Mike Babcock leave his post as coach of the Detroit Red Wings to end up behind the bench of the Canadiens? The dossier is an interesting one.
During a recent conversation with a friend in Montreal, Babcock confided that his wife and one of his daughters will spend a few weeks in Paris during the off-season with the idea of learning French. Babcock added that he also had the intention of studying French in the coming weeks.
It is well known that Babcock had spent a number of years in Montreal while studying for four years at McGill University. He was one of the pillars of the defensive corps of the Redmen in the mid 1980s.
It is quite possible that another member of the Babcock family will study at McGill next year. Babcock and his family visited Montreal last January during the NHL All-star game. A visit to the McGill campus was organized for his wife Maureen and Allie, one of his daughters, who could end up studying at McGill next year.
INTERESTED IN THE GUY BOUCHER FILE
During the recent conversation with his friend, Babcock was also informed about the dossier about the eventual move of Guy Boucher to the pro ranks. During the last few weeks, the young coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs has been rumoured to be taking over the coaching duties of the Hamilton Bulldogs, not to mention the possibility of becoming an assistant coach with Patrick Roy, where Pierre Lacroix has offered Roy the GM and heading coaching role of the Colorado Avalanche.
Babcock also told his Montreal friend to inform Boucher that he should contact him before accepting a job with an NHL team. You may recall that Boucher and Babcock have something in common -- both are former members of the McGill Redmen.
A FIFTH FORMER REDMEN
If Boucher ends up behind the bench on an NHL team, he would become the fifth former Redmen player to end up as coach in the NHL. The first was Lester Patrick, who served as coach and GM of the New York Rangers in the 1920s. George Burnett coached the Edmonton Oilers during the 1994-95 season.
This season, two former Redmen were employed by an NHL team -- Mike Babcock as coach of the Detroit Red Wings and Jamie Kompon as an assistant to Terry Murray with the Los Angeles Kings.