Mike Babcock Hired By NBC!

In some surprising news off the ice, NBC has announced they have hired Mike Babcock to be a part of their broadcast. The news comes on the same day it was announced Mike Milbury has been fired.

The battle of the Mike's has apparently gone to Babcock who hasn't been around the NHL much since he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs late 2019. 

Babcock will be an analyst on a select number of games for the American broadcast network and not everyone is thrilled about the news. Some feel Babcock's personality doesn't make good TV.

NBC’s NHL on-air broadcasters for this season. Mike Milbury will not return. pic.twitter.com/48zWeVXtNE

— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 11, 2021

As per Sportsnet:

NBC Sports announced Babcock would be joining the network as a studio analyst for a select number of NHL games this season, alongside former players Ryan Callahan, Dominic Moore, Patrick Sharp and Keith Jones

Babcock was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in November of 2019 after the team opened the season with a 9-10-4 record. His reputation took a hit shortly after when reports about how he treated his players began to circulate, including one story where Babcock instructed then-Leafs rookie Mitch Marner to rank his teammates' compete-levels, then shared Marner's thoughts with the team.

“I was trying to focus on work ethic with Mitch — focusing on role models — ended up not being a good idea. I apologized at (the) time,” Babcock texted Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman in response to the Marner incident.

We wish both Mikes nothing but the best.

Photo credit:  Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire 

Mike Babcock is part of NBC’s hockey coverage. In his first act, Mike will privately ask people who they think are lazy then reveal their lists live on-air.

— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) January 11, 2021

Mike Babcock as an analyst:

Well the first thing is that he needs to be a good human being. Period. I’ve seen [insert player name], he’s a good man, has a good family. Does it right everyday. Eats right. Drinks right. Sleeps right. Brushes his teeth right. Is a good pro.

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) January 11, 2021