Mike Babcock Line Quotations

He has the ability to score, the question is if he can do enough of the other things to get playing time. You score when your coach is confident enough to put you out there enough to let you score. The bottom line is all he has to do is be a little responsible. I'm not asking him to check the No. 1 center in the league. If he sits in his end even a little bit, he'll be OK.

The bottom line is, we didn't play Steve much the first few games he played. Tonight he played, and he was important. He played important. He's ready to go and help our hockey team.

That's what the new (salary-cap) system is all about, isn't it? It makes everyone the same. The teams that play the best will win. The bottom line is how do you handle it, and compete, and how do you allow your game to come out. That's the challenge for everyone.

Dan has played real good when you start him on the fourth line and then you move him around. When you put him in this situation ... we'll see how he does. Some guys can't do it. It's up to him.

(General Manager) Kenny Holland made it very clear to me that we're a four-line hockey club. That's how they won all their Cups in the past, and that's how we're gonna do it. Our fourth line can really skate, can really check and they can match up against anybody.