2023-06-28 20:15:38
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Mike Babcock will be officially confirmed as the new head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday with a two-year contract in his pocket, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports.
Babcock will receive a salary of four million dollars per season, adds LeBrun.
His eight-year contract he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2015 is set to expire Friday at midnight.
Earlier this month, TSN reporter Darren Dreger reported that there was speculation Babcock would return to the NHL with Columbus. According to Dreger, the Jackets would wait to finalize things until his contract with Toronto officially ends.
Babcock will succeed Brad Larsen, who led Columbus the previous two seasons, leading the club to a 25-49-9 record for 59 points last season.
The Leafs fired Babcock in November 2019 with three years remaining on his eight-year, $50 million contract.
The native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, compiled a record of 173-133-41 with Toronto. He led the team to four playoff appearances, but failed to make it past the first round.
Babcock has coached 1,301 NHL games and is 700-418-164 with 19 ties split between the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and Maple Leafs. His 700 wins rank him 12th in NHL history.
The 60-year-old won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008 and won two Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014 as a Team Canada coach. He is the first and only coach to win a Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, World Cup, World Championship and World Junior Championship.
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