Detroit general manager Ken Holland played it classy the whole way with former coach Mike Babcock, and the latter’s decision on his coaching free agency.
Did he get burned by Babcock’s decision to leave the organization to coach the rival Toronto Maple Leafs?
"I'd like to thank Mike for 10 fabulous years," he said.
The kicker was simple. Holland said he wouldn’t give Babcock more than five years on his next contract. Maybe if he had thrown some extra Little Caesars in the deal? Nah, Babs probably wanted to pass his next physical exam.
“When you’ve been in the same city as long as I have and as long as Mike has, you don’t get much longer term than four or five years,” Holland said.