Red Wings' Babcock: Superstars' teams win
/Phenomenal interview with Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock on Hockey Central at Noon on Thursday. Vast array of topics covered, including effusive praise for Gustav Nyquist.
On the subject of NHL superstars, Babcock - one of the smartest minds in the National Hockey League - offered his insight with a sensational quote.
"This is what I know about this league. It's impossible to be a superstar. In my time in the league, and I've coached awhile now, been around a few of them. Lots of the ones I've been around were at the end, so I didn't know them as good, but the Datsyuks, I think the Zetterbergs, the Crosbys, the Toews, the Nick Lidstroms - they have a drive train that goes way beyond their skill set and that is measured over a period of time. You have to become a generational type player. We have a whole bunch of good players in the league the media likes, but their team doesn't win.
"Superstars' teams win."