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Babcock is on an expiring contract and was given specific permission by his employer to seek other offers. That's quite rare in the field of coaching. Bylsma was fired. Had he been a wanted commodity as Babcock is, he would have gotten this much attention. Clearly he is not. The biggest market in the NHL, Toronto, desperately wants him, hence the media attention in Canada. I really haven't noticed that much media attention. I guess I'm not looking for it. I also think that Babcock knows he's setting the bar not only for himself but for his coaching peers for now and in the future and it seems he takes that responsibility very seriously.

He didn't drag out the decision all year. He said from camp he will discuss contracts when the season ended. Season is over, and he is taking care of everything sooner rather than later. Should he have made his decision day one just to please you? If you were getting hampered by media day in and day out, wouldnt you give a short interview just to clear the air and get all info out there right from his own mouth? Makes sense to me.

2 players isn't gonna win you a cup. Lidstrom retired. We lost Rafalski, we lost Stuart. A lot of the secondary scoring aged out, and youth has been filling positions since, and getting better every year. All under Babcock. I also bet you that Datsyuk and Hank would both say Babcock had a big part in their own development 10 years ago to become the players they did. Look at teams like the Blues. They should be winning cups with the roster they have. But they aren't. Look at the Pens. Crosby and Malkin can't do it alone there either. We have a young team learning how to win. That game 7 heartbreak was a huge lesson going forward. Babcock is a huge part of that. You bring up the Team Canada argument. Canada has ALWAYS had stacked rosters. But before the back to back gold, there has been a lot of disappointment. It is silly to talk as if any coach could have coached that team to a gold medal when more often than not the team didn't win gold in the past. Besides 2002 it has been a lot of olympic heartbreak for Canadians. Babs was chosen to coach those gold medal winning teams for a reason.

Helene St. James ‏@HeleneStJames 6m6 minutes ago #RedWings announce trophy awarded to to NHL Prospect Tournament champion renamed Matthew Wuest Memorial Cup, after late CapGeek developer. We are so lucky to be fans of likely the classiest organization in sports!

So Babcock is a primadonna because other people are more interested in him than other coaches, and even though you don't want him to come back, the amount of attention he gets annoys you so much you would rather he'd signed an extension than receive that attention? And that's why he should make an important decision on his future in less than a week. If you're sick of the hype quit paying attention to it. You've commented more about Babcock than probably 90% of NHL fans, and likely a fair few reporters. You're part of the hype.

How is it obnoxious? He isn't the one who asked for this to be so public. He is the guy who came out and said he is moving the date up for his decision. Blame the media. Babs shouldn't have to rush to such a huge decision because a few people on the internet are sick of hearing about it. Edit: He could have easily let his contract expire and let the bidding war for him begin. But he didn't. He decided to get this taken care of in May. Before the draft. Realgud.

One thing I noticed in thread. Now, I like Blashill and I hate to rag on the Calder cup, because that's all we have had to root for the last couple years. But, to even put the Calder cup in the same conversation as NHL championships, is a bit ridiculous to try and compare Blash to Babcocks resume. And to say that Babcock had a stacked roster when he had success and in the same breath say that Blashill is competing every year in Calder cup and not comment how Grand Rapids is filled with overripe NHL prospects (that we regularly leave in the minors too long) and then a bunch of ringers (NHL level players) get sent back down after we are knocked out of playoffs, is a bit disingenuous. Also, my last comment about if a replacement is needed. How often is the minor league affiliates head coach looked at before any bench or assistant coaches? (yes he was an asst one year... but not currently).

I am shocked that people that call themselves Red Wing fans, are actually hoping that if Babcock leaves, the Wings fail just to prove a point on a message board that Babcock was a good coach. If you care more about "being right" then the Wings being successful, I don't think you are that big of a fan. I hope Babs stays as I think he's a great coach. But if he leaves, I still want us to win. I care more about the Wings as a whole, then Babcock as an individual..

I love Don Cherry because he has a way of getting this board's panties in a bunch. Bless him lol He's also bucking the typical pro-Canada bias (good ol Toronna) and praising the Wings organization and Mr. I. And rightly so... Its good solid advice for Babs. But, is it the best option for the team? Maybe he and Holland can form a more cohesive vision for the years ahead, this time. If so...by all means, come on back. Otherwise...hello Blash.

I'm glad this name seems to be gaining some steam.

Lol. Cover up Kip, your hate-on is showing. He's been allowed to talk to other teams for a week. Carlyle, McClellen, and Bylsma have all been available longer. Hitchcock has been "reflecting" for twice as long. Why should he be in any rush. Because some nobody on forum doesn't like him?

He scored at a decent rate in the AHL.And apparently he was good in the playoffs vs the griffs, but he's nowhere near the godsend that most Toronto fans claim he is... Therrs nothing Toronto fans love more than disappointment.

Most people?

Same here and then people will realize how hard it is to replace the best coach in hockey by far. I mean Babcock got this team into the playoffs when most people were thinking they'd maybe contend for a top 10 draft pick

im starting to hope Babs leaves just so everyone saying they want him gone finally realizes how important he is to this franchise.

I just feel like bringing back Babs is more status quo and that's the last thing the Wings organization needs right now. As good of a coach as Babs is, we need some fresh ideas and a new voice. The Wings are not going to fall off a cliff without him around -- they have won one playoff series in four years, so it's not like Blashill has some monumental task of taking over a juggernaut. Sometimes a great coach just isn't the right fit for a team anymore and that's where I think Babcock stands at the moment. I won't be overly upset if he stays, but I do hope he moves on for the best of the organization going forward.

Well deserved. Its an amazing testament, not only to the compassion and class that the organization has, but particularly to the impact and dedication that Matt had on the sport. I think Kip articulated it as good as anyone. Matt's work was a game-changer on multiple levels.

Many crappy players have their name on the Stanley Cup, as with coaches. Don Cherry was a bit before my time as a coach, so I can't comment on his ability to coach. He's an entertainer now and plays to his audience. I'm not going to judge him as a coach based on what he does now, not to mention he's like 182. But I find his advice on this subject to be sound and based on personal experience.

Very classy move. This speaks volumes about the decency of the organization, but also about the profound impact that social media, the internet, non-traditional information outlets, and data oriented analysis have had on the sports landscape. Only a short time ago, a guy like Matt would have been considered a diehard fan, and nothing more. Naming the Cup after him seems to suggest that someone like Matt can have a substantive impact on sports decision-makers, not because of his position within an organization, but because the quality of his work and his commitment to transparency and objectivity change the way average fans access and interpret information about their team. I don't think you can stress enough the importance that Matt had on our own organization. I remember when Datsyuk and Zetterberg entered the league, nobody knew a thing about them. Coming off years with the same core of guys, and suddenly we had these two new guys who really looked like they could play, and who came out of nowhere. That could never happen now. There's just too much demand for information about our drafting, prospects, and development. Today Red Wings fans demand as much information about their team, at every single level, as any of the Canadian teams despite huge differences in the attention the sport in given in each country in traditional media outlets. That level of expectation, knowledge, and attention is the direct result of all the hard work Matt Wuest put into making a good product. The name of the Matt Wuest Cup is well deserved. Kudos.

My bold prediction... If Babcock leaves, Blashill will win a Cup first (with Detroit).

Anyone that says Mike Babcock is overrated or that we won't miss him if he leaves hasn't witness an organizational collapse. Ask Dallas when they let go of Hitchcock, Toronto when they let go of Pat Quinn, Colorado when they let go of Hartley, St. Louis with Quineville..etc. Mike Babcock is the reason why we continue to make the playoffs and I believe he will come back. The only way he leaves is how much Toronto is willing give him roster control, that can be tricky.

Or we could try to get one that can get the puck out of our zone. So that, you know, we have to defend less and can attack more. Therefore scoring more. Therefore winning more. But yes. Big slow tough guy that can hit and fight and block shots. He'd be a very busy man since he'd always be in the defensive zone.

Dylan Strome. Don Cherry 2.0 Edit. Dylan strome, not Mcdavid. thanks mrazekfanboy

Nope, he regressed to his old ways again, big time.

I like to imagine this sound coming out of Julien in that picture.