Sports

Mike Babcock elects to leave Detroit Red Wings to coach Toronto Maple Leafs

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Nov. 24, 2014, file photo, Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock reacts on the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators in Detroit. The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach, Wednesday, May 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2014, file photo, Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock argues a call to NHL linesman Bryan Pancich during the overtime session of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo, N.Y. The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach, Wednesday, May 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert, File) (The Associated Press)

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Mike Babcock as their new head coach.

The team announced Wednesday that Babcock will be introduced at a news conference Thursday morning. Babcock spent the last 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, where he won the Stanley Cup in 2008.

His contract with Detroit expired at the end of June but the Red Wings had given him permission to negotiate with other teams. The Leafs must send a third-round pick to Detroit as compensation.

Babcock had not ruled out staying in Detroit, and also interviewed with the Buffalo Sabres.

The 52-year-old also coached Canada to Olympic gold medals in 2010 and '14.

The Leafs fired Randy Carlyle in January, and replaced him on an interim basis with assistant Peter Horachek.