Mike Babcock on Detroit: I want to be here

Red Wings coach deflects any rumors about him wanting to leave Detroit

DETROIT – Mike Babcock said he thinks the Red Wings want him to be in Detroit, and he wants to be here.

The coach, who is entering the last year of his contract, spoke during a very short TV spot Thursday evening.

He was joined by Mickey Redmond who tried to help deflect any obnoxious rumors about Babcock leaving for Toronto, where former Red Wings star Brendan Shanahan now works as the Leafs' president.

"I think they want me to be here. I want to be here. We'll find a way to work something out," said Babcock. "Right now, you might find this hard to believe, we have other things to worry about besides Mike Babcock."

The team's training camp is underway in Traverse City and the preseason starts Monday in Pittsburgh. Babcock needs to figure out who gets a spot in this lineup which had so many new, young faces last season.

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