Mike Babcock’s (Stanley) cup finally runneth over

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Detroit Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock was oh-so-close to his Stanley Cup moment in 2003, when he took the Ducks to Game 7 of the finals against New Jersey. All through those Stanley Cup playoffs, Babcock talked about playing ‘greasy hockey’ and how the rare it was to get a shot at ‘the big silver thing.’

Well, the cup slipped through the Ducks hands. So when he was nudged out as coach in 2005 and the Ducks won the Stanley Cup two seasons later, one had to wonder whether Babcock would get that close again, even as Detroit’s coach (The Red Wings were aging when Babcock took over in 2005 and had not won a cup title since 2002).

Well, Babcock returned to Anaheim for the first time with a Stanley Cup championship ring on his finger on Wednesday night. Part of his summer was spent ushering the cup around for two days, per tradition. Besides his shindig in Saskatoon, Babcock took the ‘big silver thing’ around to kids who needed a good day.

-- Chris Foster