Report: Wings Eyeing Babcock as Lewis Replacement

A report in Toronto’s Globe and Mail states that the Detroit Red Wings could be looking to replace current head coach Dave Lewis with Mike Babcock, the current coach of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Lewis’ contract expired on July 30th. The Red Wings have stated that they would wait until after the end of the lockout to negotiate new coaching contracts for Lewis, associate coach Barry Smith, and assistant coach Joey Kocur.

New Anaheim general manager Brian Burke made Babcock an offer for a one-year deal with a deadline of Thursday to accept or decline.

The Lewis-led Red Wings had regular-season success in 2002-03 and 2003-04 but couldn’t get past the second round of the playoffs. Lewis took over the team after the retirement of legendary head coach Scotty Bowman.

Babcock coached the Ducks to a first-round upset of the Wings in 2003, en route to the Stanley Cup Finals. In 2004 Anaheim missed the playoffs.