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I can see it now.... -babs goes to buffalo -toronto fans try to claim they'll outbid detroit for blashill -blashill signs in detroit -toronto is mathematically eliminated from the playoffs

With the latest offer appearing to be somewhere in the neighborhood $50M over 10 seasons (with one rumor putting the total offer at $60M after additional incentives), how could you blame anyone for leaving? I'm at peace with the result either way, but my guess would be Babcock to Buffalo. They made him an offer he can't refuse, and as much as I'd like to lament another top-end free agent going elsewhere because Holland didn't want to pay market prices, we really shouldn't expect them to match. A $50M+ offer for a head coach is a desperate offer made by a desperate franchise, with no viable alternative in their system, willing to do anything to succeed and in sore need of a win. The Wings are not nearly in such a desperate position, and with many already believing the team could benefit from Blashill's fresh perspective, Babcock is commodity that the Wings feel no need to overpay for. Of course the Wings want him to stay, he is likely the best coach in the world, and in many ways if he does come back, I would expect him to do so with renewed conviction. If Babcock turns down obscene money to stay with the Wings, it would be a clear statement that the Wings aren't going anywhere, a massive morale and PR boost for the organization. If he does leave, it appears clear that the money was too good to pass up. Clean break, no hard feelings. The Wings will be forced to turn a great page and move on to the Blashill era. And honestly, I think that is the best way for it to happen. Blashill leading the Wings in the NHL is still an unknown quantity, and the organization seems both nervous to move on (especially from a coach like Babcock) and hesitant to lose another great coach/personnel person they've trained to another franchise (McLellan, Maclean, Nill, Yzerman & half of his staff). I'll likely be happy whatever the outcome because I know the Wings will have a great coach one way or another. But I will say this: Babcock @ $5M < Blashill < Babcock choosing Wings over Money.

One for Babcock speculation and one for Babcock landing spot analysis. We need one for Babcock conjecture.

Did we really need 2 threads on Babcock? Isn't one enough?

Just goes to show everyone is just grasping at straws for that media attention.

.how is it "official"? Yesterday he for sure wasn't going to the leafs, today he for sure is going to Toronto?

If Babs goes to Toronto he will come to regret that decision.

Heh, fake LeBrun is better at breaking news than LeBrun.

I'm waiting for a Mike Babcock press conference live on NHL to happen. Where Babs says "The team I have chosen is..." then he stands up, rips off his suit and tie to reveal an nWo t-shirt.

Still $5M a year, which Detroit can match, BUT for 6 years is the bad part. We's for sure lose Blash and then we'd be stuck with questionable line combos or another 6 years and never really see what Pulk and Jurco can do...let alone see Mantha, AA or Larkin on a top line. Heck, Weiss, Smith and Jurco would be all but gone with Babs here, and Howard would too come deadline day...I say let him go to Buffalo, let him try is hand at building a winner instead of inheriting one, plus he gets Jack Eichel, a franchise player. I am not mad if he goes, I would be mad though, if Blash leaves our organization, he knows the kids better than anyone....Nyquist, Tatar, Jurco, Sheahan, Mrazek, Pulkky, Ferraro, Callahan, Marchenko, Jensen, Ouellet, Sproul, AA...Who else would be better coaching those guys? Maybe when the decision is made, Babs can call LeBron and get his help in making the announcement... If Babs take Detroit offer, say goodbye to Blashill...say hello to Abby on the top line and Helm on the 2nd....again... of course if Family wants to stay in Oakland County...then, he will take the lessor offer...

That's because it's not big enough.

It'll take three years for either of them to get more win in a season than Blashill. There's your respectability.

Yea right after the next 3 1st overall picks.

This just in - Buffalo fans have learned how to edit wikipedia. Awesome! We should have a #babwatch #babswatch photoshop war. (whoever had the baywatch one - it was awesome.)

Not to mention this one has turned into an argument and has nothing to do with Babs anymore

Bit of a shocker, all along it was Det and Buff ... now this morning, Det and Buff are out and it is Leafs, Blues, or Sharks ??!! Out of those 3, I think Blues would be his best option if he truly wants to win now. Shocked that Toronto is still in the mix.

Good catch. Everyone needs to beware of fake Twitter accounts. Make sure they're verified. Also, posting false info will get you suspended or banned (not that it's what happened in this case).

Dear Babs, please go to St. Louis or San Jose.

He may have an ego, but he's no fool.

MB said he would know if the morning. Anybody know what time his morning starts? I'm getting antsy here. I'm torn on this issue. Everything that I'm feeling has been said on this board ad nauseum so I won't re-hash, but I'm fine with whatever outcome. I just want it to happen so we can move forward.

We've been pretty spoiled when it comes to coaches over the past couple decades. Look around the league, the coaching spot has been a revolving door, meanwhile we have a guy that led a mediocre Ducks team and led them to the Finals, took a Wings team that was in some serious transition after the Yzerman era and made it to the final four 3 times in a row with a Stanley Cup championship. He also won a couple Gold medals at the Olympics. Yes, he hasn't done much since recently, but he hasn't had much to work with since either. Lidstrom, Rafalski and Stuart all left within a couple years and really were never replaced. Franzen fell apart. We've been breaking in new goalies ever since Osgood retired. He's not blameless for the playoff failures of the past few years, but I don't think this lack of success is any indication of how good he is as a coach. He's done a heck of a lot more than any other active coach in the league.

The rumors this morning seem to lean towards Buffalo offering more term and money. I think Mike's gone, and that's fine with me. Time for a change.

That's insane for a coach. I want Blashill anyways, so take the money and run Babs.

Can I take it back to when the political thread was still around?