It was a d-bag move by Babs, I'm sure we will hear more stories about him, but Modano only played in 2 playoff games that year with Detroit.. Babs didn't rely heavily on him.
- PatC80

The point was he scratched him so he wouldn't reach 1500 games in the regular season but played him in the playoffs.

Chelios, the guy that threatened Bettman's wife and children, that guy?
- MaximusAurelius

That was his Italian heritage showing thru...

The point was he scratched him so he wouldn't reach 1500 games in the regular season but played him in the playoffs.
- Santo_44

I understand that.


Maybe Babs just felt Modano at 40 was too old to play in multiple playoff games, so he gave the younger 39 year old Kris Draper more playing time?

That was his Italian heritage showing thru...
- Hockey_Reverend

Chelios is greek.. Come on bud, be better

Or Babs saying Spezza needed more time to learn their PK, which is blatant bullpoop, and then never played him on that PK. And Spezza is proving Babs wrong about his capabilities.

Babs has this pattern of needing to flex his alpha status by denying guys an important big moment. Small man.

on the last game of the season on game 1499? C'mon man, that was a richard move to do.

Same with Spezza. Guy signs here for league min, is from here, gets his family to the game so you know the guy is going to be fired up which SHOULD give you a good shot a winning the game.

Eff Babs, glad he's gone. And for people who are whining about the players being female dogs about playing for him, eff them too. Ive worked for a person like Babs before. It sucks. And there was no way in heck I was going to contribute to that persons success in anyway as a matter of principal. Im all for being tough, and accountability and character building. But you dont need to be an arse to get that from your staff.
- mel_vin

I'm actually going through the boxscores right now. Modano played the last game of the season:

https://www.nhl.com/gamec...tate=final,game_tab=stats

He only got 6:30 in ice time, but he was officially in the game.

He also played the second last game of the season:

https://www.nhl.com/gamec...tate=final,game_tab=stats

And the third last game of the season:

https://www.nhl.com/gamec...tate=final,game_tab=stats

So somebody needs to fully tell this story, because it isn't adding up.

Chelios is greek.. Come on bud, be better
- PatC80

My bad!! I should have known. Italian names end with a vowel! (I am Italian BTW)

Chelios, the guy that threatened Bettman's wife and children, that guy?
- MaximusAurelius

No, the Chelios who slept with Ronald Corey's wife.

Or Babs saying Spezza needed more time to learn their PK, which is blatant bullpoop, and then never played him on that PK. And Spezza is proving Babs wrong about his capabilities.

Babs has this pattern of needing to flex his alpha status by denying guys an important big moment. Small man.
- Zezel

I did find it a little strange that the only player he 'thanked' was Morgan Rielly

Maybe he was trying to win and it wasn't about power? I thought Spezza should have played the home opener, but maybe Babs honestly felt he didn't give the team the best chance to win? Isn't that the coaches call?
- Hockey_Reverend

Maybe Babs isnt a good coach anymore and made a bad call

Maybe players see through his poop and dont want the (frank)ing childish mind games

maybe that worked 20 years ago

Maybe he still be employed if he wasnt such a Richard to people

Chelios is greek.. Come on bud, be better
- PatC80

- Atomic Wedgie

Will be interesting to see which line Couturier will be matched against.
A true test for Tavares/Matthews.
Couturier is one of my favorite players in the NHL right now, it's a guy that does it all.

My bad!! I should have known. Italian names end with a vowel! (I am Italian BTW)
- Hockey_Reverend

IIRC, Chelios' family changed it from the proper Greek "Tselios" at some point.

He had a cousin who was a hockey prospect who had the original spelling.

IIRC, Chelios' family changed it from the proper Greek "Tselios" at some point.

He had a cousin who was a hockey prospect who had the original spelling.
- Atomic Wedgie

Nikos Tselios.

- Atomic Wedgie

Uglier than this dude? Man, that's pretty harsh;

My bad!! I should have known. Italian names end with a vowel! (I am Italian BTW)
- Hockey_Reverend

It was nice to finally have our first Italian President of the United States



I miss Obama

IIRC, Chelios' family changed it from the proper Greek "Tselios" at some point.

He had a cousin who was a hockey prospect who had the original spelling.
- Atomic Wedgie

you are right, his full name is Christos Kostas Tselios

List any professional coach of any sport who has won a championship, and that every player who has ever played for him has got along with him and loved him to the end of the earth.

And go...
- Atomic Wedgie

Nope babs is a monster

It was nice to finally have our first Italian President of the United States



I miss Obama
- RickJames77

That'sa nice.... Baracka DeObama

That'sa nice.... Baracka DeObama
- PatC80

Italians rule the world!!!

Italians rule the world!!!
- Hockey_Reverend

*glances at theirs and 85% of the EU's economies*

Eh...I certainly hope not!

*glances at theirs and 85% of the EU's economies*

Eh...I certainly hope not!
- AdamFrench

We're kind of doing ok here in Europe...

It is also his job to not tear a dressing room apart.

Modano playing his 1500 game was obviously important to him. Why cause drama just to show you have power?
- Santo_44

You werent there. You dont know the reason and whether it was as simple as to show he has power.
It could have been...or may not have been. You simply dont know

After further investigation, Babcock benched Modano in the 4th last game of the season.

What a monster!

Oh, and in his last 20 games, he had 2 goals and 5 assists.

BUT MODANO DESERVED TO GET TO 1,500 GAMES!!!!

BABCOCK AND THE DETROIT RED WINGS OWED IT TO HIM!!!!!