feom Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

Claude Julien owes a tip of the cap and maybe a whole lot more than that to his friend, Mike Babcock, for the $25-million deal he just signed with the Montreal Canadiens.

And he’s not alone in the coaching fraternity.

When Babcock left the Detroit Red Wings for Toronto, he did so with more than one intent in mind. He wanted to change the salary structure for the head coach in hockey. He wanted it more in line with what coaches are paid in the NFL, NBA or Major League Baseball. He wanted to be the difference maker — not just behind the bench — and he did considerable research to establish a new paygrade for a coach in the National Hockey League.

Babcock is paid $6.25-million US salary per season with the Leafs and in signing that deal, he absolutely obliterated the previous marks. And with it has come a difference.

continued plus a few NHL topics...