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

[OutOfTheCube]

Surprised we're out on it if he goes to Toronto. They're the 2011-12 Sabres... rotten core, not much young talent, primed for some last place finishes.

[Knut]

St Louis is my guess. Lots of talent and playoff disappointments. SJ on the downswing and Toronto 5 yrs from being competitive.

[sureLoss]

Down Goes Brown @DownGoesBrown
MLSE: We’ll give you $5M.
Pegula: So will we.
MLSE: Input on the roster.
Pegula: Us too!
MLSE: Plus every spring off.
Pegula: Wait what?

[SuperMatt18]

I am going with the dark horse of San Jose.

Good weather, decent talent, and potentially more say in roster decisions.

[sureLoss]

Jeff Veillette @Jeffler
MLSE's private jet is scheduled to head to Detroit later today and depart within minutes of arrival.

http://flightaware.com/photos/view/3...crafttype/GLF4

[sureLoss]

Kevin Allen confirms Aaron Ward's report that Babcock will not return to Detroit:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...oach/27644633/

[sureLoss]

Pierre LeBrun @Real_ESPNLeBrun
It's not San Jose, Sharks for sure are OUT on Babcock. Sharks focused on long list of other candidates right now

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Source says Babcock told Blues 2 days ago he was out. Things change? If not, the Leafs may have won the sweepstakes

[Street Pharmacist]

@DownGoesBrown I hope Babcock enjoys his time on that plane, since it's the last time for a while he'll see two wings with Leaf logos doing their job.

[heep223]

Please not Leafs...god I won't be able to handle watching any hockey-related media all summer if he goes there.

[sureLoss]

Howard Berger @Berger_BYTES
Detroit radio station is reporting #Leafs have offered Babcock $8 million a year! MLSE can afford it. But, wowser.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Howard Berger @Berger_BYTES
Detroit radio station is reporting #Leafs have offered Babcock $8 million a year! MLSE can afford it. But, wowser.

If true, every other team is pissed cause this sets a real high bar for coach salaries now.

[jg13]

That's ridiculous.

Offering a coach more money than 99% of the players in this league

[Stud_McCool]

That's more than double the next highest paid coach!!

[OutOfTheCube]

Yeah I thought $5 million a year was a bit steep From Buffalo. $8 million is absurd -- most of the star players in the league don't even make that much.

[skudr248]

8 mill a year, hahahah wow.

[heep223]

Conceptually why should a star coach get paid less than a star player? IMO the coach is just as or more important than any individual player. I view this as the new normal, not an exception.

[JonDuke]

8M x 5 years. Then, once the Leafs start actually producing in 4-5 years, he'll sign an extension for 10-12 million per season and be laughing.

[dammage79]

8 years 50 million says Dreger.


Darren Dreger ‏@DarrenDreger 2m2 minutes ago
Sources say Mike Babcock has been hired by the Maple Leafs. Mammoth 8 yr contract believed to be around $50 million.

[sec304]

I'm so glad we extended Hartley before this overpayment by TO

[The Fonz]

I've never understood why the best coaches in the game get paid 1/4 of what the best players get paid.