[News] Detroit grants permission to Babcock to talk to other teams

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Real reason Detroit is letting him talk to other teams. Trying to get an asset out of it.

Helene St. James @HeleneStJames
NHL teams would have to sign compensation letter to talk to Babcock. If hire him, would owe Wings draft pick.

I think it has more to do with a price discovery and Detroit getting a right to try to match an offer.

[thefoss1957]

Unless Babcock has a thing for Toronto, St. Loo would be his most natural destination...a veteran team that is already competitive, in a division that Babs knows well...St. Joe, is less likely, but, IMO, more attractive than perennial losers.

I just can't see him taking a project, Edmonton would be a pipe dream...and Toronto, wouldn't be worth the scrutiny, given how much rebuilding is yet to be done there.

[BigT112]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Fire hartley!!! Put in offfer!!!

You forget the green text or.....?

[Sylvanfan]

I was wondering if they are trying to get this over with sooner than later so they don't miss out on hiring a replacement coach. By putting Babcock on the market they potentially delay other teams from hiring a guy they may want.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

Why does he potentially want out of Detriot?...is it simply that they can't afford to pay him what he can get elsewhere?...if so, does Edmonton have deeper pockets where it makes sense he could end up there? Toronto makes more sense, I'd think.

Because Ken Holland is blocking his upward movement. Babcock wants full control, which is not presently available in Detroit.

Plus a dumptruck full of money.

[Ozy_Flame]

Get rid of that bum Hartley; Babcock - watta guy

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Because Ken Holland is blocking his upward movement. Babcock wants full control, which is not presently available in Detroit.

Plus a dumptruck full of money.

I don't think that's the case. Babcock mentioned he has no ambitions to be a GM and he already has input into personnel decisions in Detroit. And Holland said money won't be an issue in terms of Babcock staying.

I'm guessing it's more about 1) choosing a location that's good for his family, and a very distant 2) potentially getting out of DET before Datsyuk/Zetterberg decline and they rebuild.

[CroFlames]

Honestly, if I were him, I'd see what San Jose has to offer.

Still decent team in all respects, plus California.

If SJ offered me one truckload of money, and Edmonton offered two truckloads, I'd be OK with one truckload and living in SJ.

[Poe969]

I could see the sabres going hard after him too. They're going to have a good young team and he could really help them develop into a winning team.

[sureLoss]

Craig MacTavish @FakeOilersGM
So Holland wants a 3rd round draft pick for Mike Babcock? Well, if anybody signs Dallas Eak… haha, I can't even finish this

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Because Ken Holland is blocking his upward movement. Babcock wants full control, which is not presently available in Detroit.

Plus a dumptruck full of money.

Babcock has stated numerous times he doesn't want to be a GM. IMO this is about money and recognition. He wants to be the highest paid coach and he wants another challenge to conquer as he's won a cup with Detroit, Olympic gold, and probably wants the challenge of taking a different team over the top. I would think the Penguins, Sharks (depending on their goaltending situation) and Blues (goaltending a question mark as well) would be his best chances of winning a cup as going to Edmonton or Tonront would likely result in playoffs eventually but they are both so far from being a legit cup contender that he would have to wait until close to his 60's to get a sniff of another cup. Buffalo is in a similar position as the Oilers and Leafs but they look to have a more rounded prospect base and could be the easier of the three to take from worst to first.

[Parallex]

I kind of feel like he'll end up in Buffalo.

A ton of young talent + personal connection with Tim Murray + An owner that's rich enough to spend whatever he wants on whatever he wants (Terry Pegula).

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I kind of feel like he'll end up in Buffalo.

A ton of young talent + personal connection with Tim Murray + An owner that's rich enough to spend whatever he wants on whatever he wants (Terry Pegula).

I think he'll go to Edmonton

[northcrunk]

He will go to Edmonton if he wants to sewer his career and reputation.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think he'll go to Edmonton

It certainly is the highest risk/reward as he would be attempting to take the all time worst franchise in the history of the NHL to a cup. There is considerable risk in that he could become another footnote in a bad organization as even with McDavid there's still massive holes in the roster. I don't think he would be a disaster there and would likely eventually take them even into the playoffs but it could tarnish his golden boy "can do no wrong" status as he's in that Keenan zone of major success (he took three different teams to the cup finals and win in NY which was one of the highest profile cup victories ever). He bit off more than he could chew in St. Louis and it tarnished his legacy.

[dissentowner]

There is little doubt to me that he will be the new head coach of the TML. His connections to Shanny, the fact he is a Canadian, and most importantly it is the ultimate challenge in the biggest hockey market. Remember when Burke left Anaheim he said being the GM of the TML is the greatest job you could be offered, I think Babcock will feel the same way about taking on the challenge of ending the Leafs slump as head coach. Guy has won everything in hockey as a coach, I think he wants a big challenge and the draw of the biggest market in hockey along with a ridiculous contract will be too much to say no to.

[White Out 403]

hard to imagine him going to any other team but st louis or san jose , etc. babcock has a taste for winning. hes not interested in rebuilding a buffalo or edmonton

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by thefoss1957

Unless Babcock has a thing for Toronto, St. Loo would be his most natural destination...a veteran team that is already competitive, in a division that Babs knows well...St. Joe, is less likely, but, IMO, more attractive than perennial losers.

A just can't see him taking a project, Edmonton would be a pipe dream...and Toronto, wouldn't be worth the scrutiny, given how much rebuilding is yet to be done there.

A little while ago, it was speculated that Babcock wanted to move on from Detroit because he felt that he accomplished everything he could there and wanted a new challenge. Well, Edmonton sure fits that bill. Having a blue chipper like McDavid in the fold certainly helps. Plus, Babcock does have a history in Alberta and Western Canada in general.

[Benched]

Personally, I think he wants out of Detroit because he can see the cliff/drop-off coming. He doesn't want to have his name stamped as being the coach that failed to get the Wings into the postseason, breaking that amazing streak.

[liamenator]

I hope I'm wrong, but it seems pretty close to a foregone conclusion that he'll go to Edmonton. Babcocks' key criteria are: 1) setting a new bar by which coaches salaries will be measured; 2) cementing his legacy by winning with a new organization.

Edmonton and Buffalo are the only organizations that can offer both. (St. Louis and San Jose offer the chance to win sooner, but neither will be willing nor able to pay what he's going to command).

The Buffalo situation has less of a stink than Edmonton, obviously, but with Nicholson, Chiarelli, and McDavid, that pig is wearing some pretty attractive lipstick at the moment -- all the more so, given the Hockey Canada connections. The latter is the one thing Buffalo can't match.