As one might expect, I have no interest in Babs. I think bringing him on would probably improve the team, but only marginally given our talent level, and we'd end up looking a lot like the Wings from 2012-2015 (i.e. a handful of decent players grinding games to a halt to win).
In a more general sense one has to wonder about Babs' overall approach after this debacle in TO. That's as winning a roster as you're ever gonna get, and to have the results he's had has to leave you wondering what's going on? He's got all the offense a guy could ask for, in all different varieties. I'd agree that moving on from guys like JVR and Kadri was perhaps short sighted, but it's not like they were replaced with bums. Their defense WAS weak a couple years ago, so Dubas went out and acquired genuine top four talent in Muzzin, Barrie, and Ceci and they've done well developing Dermott and Liljegren as well. Their goalie situation isn't great, but their starter is good and I think it's pretty thin to blame this dumpster fire on a backup goalie. Like I said, this is as good a roster as most coaches will have in their entire careers. Which brings me to...
Peter Laviolette. Won a Cup in Carolina with absolutely nothing. Went to the Cup finals with a good, but not spectacular roster in Philly and lost to a dynasty team. Then took a good, but not spectacular, Nashville team to the finals and lost to another dynasty team. He's actually done what Babs always gets credit for (i.e. win with thin rosters), he's got just as many Cups as Babs in just as many tries, and is the only guy to ever beat Babcock in the Olympics (for people who think that matters).
If he's available, I'd be more than thrilled to see Laviolette behind Detroit's bench. I've been a fan of the guy's for a really long time, and I'd love to see an offensive coach take advantage of this team's speed and skill going forward.