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

[saillias]

Hitch must feel great right now. If Babs comes here, we'll fire you, but he probably won't so you're probably safe. Probably.

[Vinny01]

I keep hearing Friedman say "he doesn't want to go to Toronto and lose for 4 years"

Now I am no fan of the Leafs but I think they are closer to rebuilding than 4 years of losing. They have a pretty good goalie who is 26 and just entering his prime. They have a top line winger who is 26 on a great contract. They have a decent asset in Kessel who they can trade for a package of younger players. I don't see Dion bringing back prime assets but they should be able to move him.

They have drafted Rielly and Nylander who are 2 good young players and they pick 4th this year and will get one of Strome/Hanifin/Marner. Kadri is an okay player and Gardiner still has potential.

I feel like the Flames on paper started with less in 2013 and in 2 years appear to be on their way to contention soon. I think 1-2 years more of sucking is all that is required of the Leafs if they manage their current assets correctly

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I keep hearing Friedman say "he doesn't want to go to Toronto and lose for 4 years"

Now I am no fan of the Leafs but I think they are closer to rebuilding than 4 years of losing. They have a pretty good goalie who is 26 and just entering his prime. They have a top line winger who is 26 on a great contract. They have a decent asset in Kessel who they can trade for a package of younger players. I don't see Dion bringing back prime assets but they should be able to move him.

They have drafted Rielly and Nylander who are 2 good young players and they pick 4th this year and will get one of Strome/Hanifin/Marner. Kadri is an okay player and Gardiner still has potential.

I feel like the Flames on paper started with less in 2013 and in 2 years appear to be on their way to contention soon. I think 1-2 years more of sucking is all that is required of the Leafs if they manage their current assets correctly

Calgary got lucky because they had a Gaudreau and we didn't know it and had a Norris candidate and didn't know it plus a future potential Norris candidate in Brodie and didn't know it. The flames seemed behind, but in retrospect, the actually had some good pieces

[Vinny01]

Double post

[The Original FFIV]

Tim Graham ‏@ByTimGraham

Source familiar tells me Mike Babcock down to Buffalo and Detroit, confidently predicts Buffalo's big money will be choice. Toronto is out.

[united]

NHL coach predicts Babcock will leave Red Wings for lucrative deal with Sabres
http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/755343

There's a reported extension offer on the table from the Red Wings at $3.25 million annually - which would make him the highest paid coach in the league - but Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula are opening up their wallets in a big way, reportedly offering a deal in the range of $5 million per season.

[habernac]

Buffalo???

[codynw]

Originally Posted by habernac

Buffalo???

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by 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.

It just makes too much sense for the sabres not to go after him.

[dammage79]

Huge coup for Buffalo if they land Babcock.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Calgary got lucky because they had a Gaudreau and we didn't know it and had a Norris candidate and didn't know it plus a future potential Norris candidate in Brodie and didn't know it. The flames seemed behind, but in retrospect, the actually had some good pieces

That's true but the Leafs have some good pieces in place. I just think the 4 years is over blowing it. They need a new mix and if they get proper assets for their players, keep some of the guys, and hire the right coach they will turn it around in 2 or so years

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

That's true but the Leafs have some good pieces in place. I just think the 4 years is over blowing it. They need a new mix and if they get proper assets for their players, keep some of the guys, and hire the right coach they will turn it around in 2 or so years

That is still a big if for a coach that wants to win soon

[Draug]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Huge coup for Buffalo if they land Babcock.

For only $5 million? Easy payment for Buffalo. Spending $5m to realize the potential of a $60m roster is a dead easy decision, I would say.

If it comes down to only money at the end of the day, I am shocked Edmonton didn't open the cheque book and offer $7-10m ... Babcock would've been the best (or only) choice coach that could remove the entitlement of that mess in Edmonton and make them a real team.

[united]

@MatthewWGR
A source close to the situation tells me the Sabres' offer is "in the range of $50 million dollars"

If the $5 million report is accurate, that's a 10-year $50 million offer. My god.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by united

@MatthewWGR
A source close to the situation tells me the Sabres' offer is "in the range of $50 million dollars"

If the $5 million report is accurate, that's a 10-year $50 million offer. My god.

If this is true how couldn't he take that deal? The fact that he's entertained other offers tells that he's not married to Detroit and if the disparity of money is this large it's kind of a no-brainer and it's not like the Sabres don't have a lot of nice pieces in place and Eichel is going to be a very nice player.

[Buff]

Hard to say that things would have been different under a different coach, but Zetterberg and Datsyuk really developed well under Babcock's tutelage.

Right now everybody is saying McDavid is better than Eichel, and that isn't putting a knock against Eichel. Makes you wonder that with Babcock as a coach the difference could be a lot closer than many are predicting. Eichel may not be the offensive juggernaut that McDavid looks like he'll be but Eichel could be a more well rounded player under Babcock's guidance.

[dammage79]

If I were a betting man, I'd wager Babcock is a Sabre by the end of the week.

My logic:
Young team about to be loaded with talent, ability to develop and shape them the way he sees fit.

Tons of money.

Red Wings are going to be in a re-tooling mode for the next few years.

Has done everything you can name under the sun with the Red Wings in his tenure and is likely seeking a new challenge.

Taking all of that into consideration, it just makes too much sense for a guy like Babcock to pass up a fresh new opportunity where majority of the young pieces are in place for the forseeable future in Buffalo.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by Buff

Hard to say that things would have been different under a different coach, but Zetterberg and Datsyuk really developed well under Babcock's tutelage.

Right now everybody is saying McDavid is better than Eichel, and that isn't putting a knock against Eichel. Makes you wonder that with Babcock as a coach the difference could be a lot closer than many are predicting. Eichel may not be the offensive juggernaut that McDavid looks like he'll be but Eichel could be a more well rounded player under Babcock's guidance.

Eichel could easly be the better long term player than McDavid. He already has a better shot not playing in Edmonton.

[automaton 3]

Babcock has already won everything there is to win, so a new challenge for a huge paycheque would not surprise me at all.

Buffalo is in complete disarray though. The young talent is very raw and has not been burnished to a high sheen in the AHL as the Red Wings do.

[sureLoss]

Greg Brady @bradyfan590
Source: Red Wings almost certainly OUT on Babcock. $ quote: "Mike Ilitch won't get in a bidding war with what he believes is his already."