The plaudits are rolling in for “the best coach in the NHL” and fans are catching their breath at the enormous treasure he has won. It is an eight year contract worth $50 million U.S., the richest ever for an NHL coach, it is said. It was won in a down-to-the-last-minute series of bargaining which left the Buffalo Sabres locked out at the last second and the Detroit Red Wings, his employer until mid-morning, begging Babcock to stay. The twitter giddiness is palpable but older heads say there is no guarantee of anything. and if Babcock can deliver for the Leafs, he will have earned every dime.
