Mike Babcock Best Quotations

Let's be honest, we had a great regular season, and the regular season's over. It you don't bring your best game, you don't win.

When I evaluate a trade as a coach, I evaluate who gets the best player. That's all, it's just about the best player because the best player makes everyone else better. That's what Joe has done.

I've coached some good hockey players, but he's the best player I've ever coached. This guy, I always knew he was a good player, but I had no idea he was this good.

I've coached some real good players -- he's the best player I ever coached. He's classy as they come, as humble as they come. This guy just makes people around him better, and that's the key to having a successful team. He's the easiest person I've ever coached.

I've talked to Scotty a lot. The best reputation, the best record, the best coach in the history of our game is here as a consultant for us. All I've got to do is phone him and ask. He's unbelievable.

That's what the new (salary-cap) system is all about, isn't it? It makes everyone the same. The teams that play the best will win. The bottom line is how do you handle it, and compete, and how do you allow your game to come out. That's the challenge for everyone.

They're proud guys. They want to win. They want to be the best. We all know the best isn't measured now. You get the silver thing for winning the marathon in the spring. And that's what we want to do.