Mike Babcock is switching one Original 6 NHL franchise for another after being hired Wednesday to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Maple Leafs announced the hiring, ending months of speculation about Babcock’s future with the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he spent the past 10 seasons and won a Stanley Cup in 2008.
By hiring Babcock, the Leafs must send a third-round pick to Detroit as compensation.
Sharks sign free agent: The Sharks signed Finnish free agent forward Joonas Donskoi to an entry-level contract. Donskoi, 23, had 19 goals and 30 assists in 58 games for Karpat in Finland’s top professional hockey league.