Mike Babcock, with that legendary stare and time ticking in his current contract, has now won 500 games as a National Hockey League head coach.
He achieved the milestone Saturday night, as his Detroit Red Wings came back to defeat the New York Rangers by a final score of 3-2. The Red Wings trailed by a pair of goals after the first period but tied it in the second with goals just over a minute apart. Darren Helm scored the winner in the third.
For Babcock, this win is an individual accomplishment but it also makes history within the NHL coaching fraternity.
Per Elias, @DetroitRedWings M. Babcock (895 games) is 2nd coach in NHL history to reach 500 wins in less than 900 games (Scotty Bowman, 825)
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 7, 2014
With a 3-2 win in #NYRvsDET, @DetroitRedWings' Mike Babcock earned his 500th head-coaching victory, tying Toe Blake for 18th in NHL history.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 7, 2014
And it coincides with the fact Babcock is in the final year of his contract with Detroit.
As reported on Insider Trading, sources say Det is willing to make Babcock highest pd coach (4-5yr term). Offer has to be made and accepted.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) December 3, 2014