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The Daily Insight

What did Babcock say to Johan Franzen?

Author

James Olson

Updated on March 05, 2026

Former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios said coach Mike Babcock “verbally assaulted” Johan Franzen during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs when the Red Wings faced the Nashville Predators, causing Franzen to have a "nervous breakdown."

Furthermore, what did Babcock say to Franzen?

Johan Franzen is quoted in the Swedish newspaper Expressen calling Babcock “a terrible person, the worst I have ever met.”

Additionally, what did Chelios say about Babcock? Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios is chiming in on the anti-Mike Babcock chatter. During an interview on the newest episode of Spitten Chiclets podcast, Chelios said he watched the former Detroit Red Wings coach cause Johan Franzen to have a nervous breakdown after a playoff loss.

Considering this, what did Babcock do Franzen?

"Some of the things [Babcock said to Franzen] on the bench, I don't know what he said to him behind closed doors one-on-one, but he blatantly verbally assaulted him during the game on the bench," Chelios told the Spittin' Chiclets Podcast in an episode released Monday.

What happened Johan Franzen?

Injured Johan Franzen getting treatment for 'dark and sad' places. Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen has not played an NHL game since Oct. 10, 2015 due to head injuries. Franzen, 38, remains under contract with the Red Wings after signing an 11-year, $43.5 million deal that runs through the 2019-20 season.

Related Question Answers

What did Babcock do wrong?

Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock is coming under additional fire for his methods of player treatment. Hall of Fame defenceman Chris Chelios recalled Babcock "verbally assaulting" teammate Johan Franzen during a playoff series.

What happened to Mike Babcock?

The Toronto Maple Leafs fired head coach Mike Babcock on Wednesday after a 9-10-4 start to the 2019-20 season. It marks the third time since the start of the 2011-12 season that the Leafs have made an in-season coaching change, this one coming amid a five-game losing streak.

Who did Mike Babcock coach?

Toronto Maple Leafs Head coach, 2015–2019 Detroit Red Wings Head coach, 2005–2015 Anaheim Ducks Head coach, 2002–2004

Will Red Wings fire coach?

It is said that general manager, Steve Yzerman, is going to fire head coach, Jeff Blashill, within the coming days. Blashill is in his 5th season as the Red Wings' bench boss and has failed to make the playoffs since the 2015-16 season.

How bad are the Detroit Red Wings?

At 15-47-5, the Wings have by far the worst record in the NHL. They have 35 points, and going into Sunday's games, the second-worst team, Los Angeles, was outdistancing the Wings by nearly 20 points, as the Kings had 54. How dire is it? The 2019-20 season could go down as the worst in franchise history.

Who is the Detroit Red Wings coach?

Jeff Blashill

Who hates Mike Babcock?

Carlo Colaiacovo is among a list of former NHL players who are speaking out with strong criticism of Mike Babcock, who was fired from his position as Toronto Maple Leafs coach last week. Colaiacovo had a short term playing defense with the Detroit Red Wings in 2012-13 when Babcock was coach.

Will Babcock ever coach again?

I mean, he won gold medals with the Olympic team, but you or I could have coached those teams. He won one Stanley Cup. So, it's easy to say right now when everything is fresh that Babcock should not and will not ever coach an NHL team again.

Did Babcock play hockey?

As a defenceman, Mike Babcock was a fierce competitor. He played a season with the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League in 1980-81, joined the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in 1981-82 and followed with a monster season with the WHL's Kelowna Wings in 1982-83.

Did Johan Franzen retire?

While he is under contract to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL), he has not played since early in the 2015-16 season due to post-concussion syndrome. He is a Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings in 2008.

Johan Franzén.

Johan Franzen
Playing career 1999–2016

Are the Red Wings still paying Franzen?

Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen is still under contract with the Wings however has been on long term injured reserve for the last couple of years. While the Wings continue to pay Franzen, Franzen is paying physically and mentally for his time in the NHL.

How much cap space do the Red Wings have?

As of right now, the cap ceiling is $81.5 million, with a cap floor of $60.2 million. The Detroit Red Wings currently are only on the books for around $45.38 million next year, which is already $15 million below the cap floor right now.