Will he actually leave Detroit?

[riggs]

Detroit Red Wings give coach Mike Babcock permission to talk to other teams



http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&...92885102,d.eXY

[RWGR]

As a Red Wings fan(atic), I have to say the Wings are in a win-win situation here. If Babcock stays, they get to keep the best coach in hockey. If he leaves, they get the most sought-after coach in hockey, Jeff Blashill (who, to this day, I remind got his hockey knowledge from playing street hockey with me and my brothers back in the day).

Babcock's family wants to stay in Detroit. His youngest kid will be a junior in high school next year, and she wants to finish school with the kids she grew up with. She was in first grade when the Babcock's arrived in Detroit, those are her friends, the ones she grew up with. Babcock is a family-first guy, so I believe it will be the desire of the daughter that will be the final piece of the puzzle. Money-wise, he's set. Detroit will probably offer a multi-year contract that averages 4.5 million per year. Other teams will offer a bit more, but I don't think he'd bite just because of a bump in money. Family first.

But, if he did leave...Edmonton.

Babs loves a challenge, and there is a challenge. But they have a lot going for them, too. Grossly mismanaged for years (but nowhere near the level the Laffs have been), the Oilers will be a very good team and organization soon. It all starts with getting serious with a GM and hiring Chiarelli. I think he and Babcock would work very well together. And the talent he'd have to work with there is off the charts - Eberle, Nugent-Hopkins, Hall, Yakupov, Schultz and eventually Nurse on D, that's a roster that'd make any hockey person drool with anticipation. The Oilers will never replicate the Gretzky-Messier days again, but with the right people in charge they could come as close as they ever will to mirroring those days in a sense.

Other teams will offer more cash up front than Detroit, but that's not because Detroit doesn't have the cash. Mike Illitch is worth 4.2 billion, money is no object, the Wings and Tigers are his playthings. But Illitch is old school, and he will go out of his way to make sure the Wings don't retain Babcock simply for the cash alone; he'll want Babcock to stay also because he wants to be a Red Wing, something beyond just the monetary reward.. That's how Illitch works.

It's old school, but, it works. You can hate the Red Wings all you want, but you can't argue with the fact they are one of the most successful franchises in sports the last quarter century.

That didn't happen by mistake.

[Official Cat of Soonet]

Peter Chiarelli is finally a good move by Edmonton. He will teach McTavish what a "bold move" actually is.

[riggs]

http://www.tsn.ca/babcock-shanahan-t...ition-1.279834

"We made a contract offer to Mike last June and couldn't find a solution. I went to him again in January and made another contract extension offer, and Mike felt, at that point in time, that he appreciated the offer but wanted to wait until the end of the year. That was the only conversation that we really had this winter.
"When we went to Grand Rapids (last weekend), spent four hours together in the car, we had a great talk. I told Mike that we'd like to re-sign him, we want him back. He would like the opportunity to explore any possibilities that are out there for him. Certainly, we are a possibility."

[RWGR]

Ken Holland asked for a decision by May 25th, Babcock says he will announce by May 22nd.

Just get this over with, it's become a circus.

If you don't know if you want to stay in Detroit by this time then you probably don't want to stay in Detroit. Move on, and let the Wings get a new staff together that can have a few weeks to plan for the draft.

This isn't all about Mike Babcock, though I'm not sure his massive ego allows him to see that.

[The Voice]

This is what Jeff Marik from Rogers Sportsnet threw out there yesterday "Babcock to Buffalo and Blashill to The LEAFS".

[RWGR]

Blashill is not an idiot. No self-respecting human being would want to work in the Leafs organization

[Barry Morris]

Blashill is not an idiot. No self-respecting human being would want to work in the Leafs organization

Any businessman would.

[RWGR]

So Babcock, the coach of Team Canada, is a greedy businessman who only makes decisions on what he can get from a certain situation?

go figure

[Barry Morris]

So Babcock, the coach of Team Canada, is a greedy businessman who only makes decisions on what he can get from a certain situation?

go figure

Maybe.

The american influence, ya know!!!

[riggs]

So Babcock, the coach of Team Canada, is a greedy businessman who only makes decisions on what he can get from a certain situation?

go figure

I'm in agreement with you. I can't see money topping his decision because he'll be paid quite well where ever he is. Like you said, he may stay in Detroit. He may just be taking the time to make sure there's nothing more appealing than his current status. It appears we'll know his answer this week so it'll be a short wait.

[RWGR]

Maybe.

The american influence, ya know!!!

We even influence the coach of Team Canada

We win

[RWGR]

Looks like Buffalo is the last serious contender. If they offer 5 mil per year there is no way Illitch matches, and he shouldn't.

buh bye, Babs

[Official Cat of Soonet]

Detroit will be just fine without him.

[RWGR]

Ten years is an eternity in sports. They had a very good run together, but it's probably time to move on.

[riggs]

Looks like Buffalo is the last serious contender. If they offer 5 mil per year there is no way Illitch matches, and he shouldn't.

buh bye, Babs

I could be wrong, but I don't see him going to Buffalo. Their circumstances aren't much better than the Leafs. Both teams are basement dwellers and are years away from being an established contender. I'm thinking San Jose or even St Louis (even though Hitchcock is still there)...either way we should know no later than tomorrow.

[RWGR]

Follow
AP reporting they are already in contract talks


AP SportsVerified account
‏@AP_Sports
AP Source: Mike Babcock in contract talks with Buffalo Sabres http://apne.ws/1edUUvE (@john_wawrow)
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[RWGR]

Helene St. James ✔@HeleneStJames
Asked Mike Babcock if he is leaving Detroit? Babcock: "Not sure, know by morning." #RedWings
4:24 PM - 19 May 2015
242 242 Retweets 94 94 favorites

[Official Cat of Soonet]

Well we know he isn't going to the Leafs. Does anyone have a clue what they are going? There is a draft coming up and they are focused on a coaching search and they don't even have a GM. What a dysfunctional setup they have going.

[RWGR]

I guess Toronto was never really in the hunt. Not sure if it's because they didn't pursue him much, or he basically let it be known they may as well not bother.

Anyways, this is interesting:

Matthew Coller @MatthewWGR
A source close to the situation tells me the Sabres' offer is "in the range of $50 million dollars"
5:09 PM - 19 May 2015
240 240 Retweets 121 121 favorites