| kristianhay | 02-02-2012 09:50 AM |
Quote:
Like most NHL coaches who grew up in Canada and are working in the U.S., Mike Babcock enjoys the give-and-take with reporters when the Red Wings visit Canadian cities.
After going through a workout with a Detroit trainer that would have left one of his players huffing and puffing, the 48-year-old Saskatoon native held court with reporters on Wednesday.
His assessment of the Canucks
“I really like their top four D. Most people see Hamhuis and Bieksa as their No. 1 pair, but Edler and Salo, for me, are outstanding players.
“They've got their guys everyone talks about, but Hodgson was a top-10 draft pick, Canadian Hockey player of the year, he's a real hockey player to me.
“Lapierre and Malhotra gives them a real solid fourth line.
“Higgins seems to be revived, Raymond can really skate, Burrows really skates. And I haven't even talked about their big three up front.
"Then, one-two in net are outstanding. There's no fall-off."
On his much-maligned goalie at the 2010 Games
"I think anyone who's won an Olympic gold medal, won a world championship … did he win a world junior [Silver in 1999]? Been to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final. How old's Roberto? [32] I'd say he's doing all right.
“I don't know, he had a smile on his face when I saw him in the hallway today.
“You know what, only one team gets to win. I've lost in Game 7 twice. It's not a good thing, it's not fun. But I'd take losing in Game 7 over losing in Game 6 and I'd take that over not getting to the final, any day.”
On the recurring references to the Sedins as sisters by the likes of Chicago's Dave Bolland
“I don't know what they were calling them after the [win over the Blackhawks]. I think sometimes you better keep your mouth shut and just appreciate good players.
“The thing I like about 'em, and I was talking to one of our players about this today, is they have decided to be elite. They've gotten better each and every year.
“There's nobody in the league better on the cycle than them and no one better on the power play than them.
“Wasn't one of them the top scorer last year and the other the year before, something like that? I don't know what you want them to do, they look like pretty good players every time we play them.
“To me, they're real special players. They don't have a 'good-enough' metre. They haven't said, 'OK, we've been good enough,' and reflected on their past.
“They want to win. I'm impressed by them. I like their attitude, I like how hard they play.”
On Niklas Kronwall's leaping hit on Ryan Kesler in December
"He's one of those guys that, if you're going to be physical, he can respond or he can initiate.
"The thing I like about it, he's playing against good players, he's playing fair and honest, and if he gets a chance to catch you he's going to catch you."
| Great article from Babock, my respect for this guy just continues to grow. Class act. http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Wi...#ixzz1lCWbzVce |
