Modano calls playing under Babcock a 'unique experience'

When Toronto head coach Mike Babcock made hometown boy Jason Spezza a healthy scratch for the Leafs' home opener this season, many felt it was a petty move and likened it to when Babcock scratched Mike Modano for the final game of the Detroit Red Wings season in 2011, leaving the veteran sitting at 1499 games to end his career. Appearing on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Thursday, Modano said he "felt for Jason."

“I mean that's just hard. As you get older you have scenarios that play out that maybe you thought shouldn't play out at the time. …I enjoyed Mike at the beginning of the year and then I got injured and kind of out of the system and fought my way back. It was a tough pill to swallow to miss one of the last three games to get 1,500. It's a bitter pill but for some reason, some way that was his decision and you gotta live with it the rest of your life.”

Modano went on the call playing under Babcock a 'unique experience', adding there's no way to change his mind once it's made up.

“Uhh, I don't think so. I don't think so,” Modano said while laughing. “I think he has a certain way and once he thinks it through and has a decision he'll take other people's opinions but I think it's just in the back of his mind he knows what he's going to do and that's the way it's going to be. His track record has been pretty good, obviously. I mean, he has the credentials and everything to make those kinds of decisions. I think in the back of his mind he knows his decision and nothing's going to deter him from the way he makes his mind up and that's it.”

“At an early age I think guys can handle it. You go out there and play and it kind of rolls off your back,” Modano said. "As you get older you're like, ‘I've heard this song and dance, it's a broken record, deal with me like a normal human.'”

Source: Sportsnet.ca

MUST READ

46 minutes ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau What a doctor just said about William Carrier's injury is getting attention across the NHL

1 hour ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau A major Stan Bowman decision could change everything for Connor McDavid

2 hours ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau The truth about Dylan Larkin and Steve Yzerman may have just been revealed by Elliotte Friedman

3 hours ago  |  By Vincent Carbonneau Elliotte Friedman just dropped another major update on the failed Leafs-Canadiens blockbuster

4 hours ago  |  By David St-Jean This towering forward with multiple 30-goal seasons has unexpectedly become available: Alex Tuch

5 hours ago  |  By David St-Jean After a failed first attempt, Kent Hughes is closing in on a major trade

6 hours ago  |  By David St-Jean Edmonton Oilers may land their long-awaited No. 1 goalie in blockbuster trade

7 hours ago  |  By David St-Jean Gavin McKenna hit with unexpected blow before the NHL Entry Draft

MORE STORIES