RedWingsRox

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.

Is Dreger and TSN flying to MI to televise his decision live?

If Babs goes to Buffalo, it will be an ongoing story line for next few years to see which coach can bring their respective teams to respectability. As an indicator, let's say the 1st team to make it to the playoffs. I'll say McLellan.

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

Means nothing unless we know the terms ... is that for 10 years or 5?

Great news ... please accept Buffalo's offer. Let's move on already, next man up ... congratulations Blashill.

Personally, if I was Holland, no. $3.25 for 4 years is a significant raise and very fair for his performance, how many Cups again did Babcock bring us? This offers him and other coaches a reasonable increase in level of pay. Doubling it in one move is a bit unreasonable. If Babs makes $5, how much should Q and Sutter make, both have 2 Cups in the last 5 years? Would not let Babs use Buffalo as the gauge of salary. I'd support Holland and Mr. I if they let him walk.

If true, fine by me ... in the end, he wasn't as sought after as he or most people thought. Toronto, Buffalo, Det were the only true options. Nothing from Pittsburgh, SJ, Edmonton, St. Louis ... Guess he's not even close to the 'best coach in the NHL period'.

If short term like year to year, then Holland will have to not give permission to other teams to talk to Blashill, someone said he is signed to 2016-17 and apparently, he is making $400K, twice the amount of AHL coaches so i hope he is OK with that. But this does seem like Babs is just hanging around waiting for a hotter girlfriend while pretending to stay in this 10 year marriage. Not sure if NHL can handle another drama like this next year. If this is going to be the case, then the offer is $2M for 1 year, no raise cuz you didn't do any better than 1st round exit from last year.

If the report is true ... sorry but no. Don't cater to that condition ... let him go now. No way to a 1 year or 2 year deal and we do this all over again ... what, when Pittsburgh wants to dance and we lose Blashill ... no way. Bye, good luck in Buffalo or Toronto. Blashill, congratulations, you're the new head coach of the Detroit Red Wings for the next 4 years, grow with it, we'll be patient.

What do you make of this in relation to Babs watch? Things didn't go well? Sharks get OK to interview Bylsma: report http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=768116

Does anyone have Mike's email before he makes a decision, I want to send him this article and findings: Here Is The Income Level At Which Money Won't Make You Any Happier In Each State http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/17/map-happiness-benchmark_n_5592194.html

What is the difference between $3.5m/yr and $5m/yr after taxes? If he goes to Buff for that ... what can you say, thanks for 10 years.

What is Mr. I going to do with all the money he saves by hiring Blashill, what do you think he will be offered for his 1st NHL head coaching gig, $1.5M/yr ?

Agree ... please take the $5M from Buffalo and enjoy coffee with Rex Ryan.

How could it be, he's scheduled to talk to SJ and St. Louis today? But if so, really, Buffalo ... are they that much closer to the Cup than us? I guess it was about the $$, >$5M/yr.

I think that the expectation is not to be understated. Seriously, if Babs went to a place like Buffalo or Toronto and didn't bring the team to playoffs in 2 years ... it would be considered HUGE disappointment and failure all around, for owners, players, fans, and Babs himself. Money is good but at the end, it can't possibly be about the $$ ... not even for the owners.

Yah but of all teams, SJ ?? What do they have that the Wings don't have other than summer weather all year round? Their 2 stars are aging as well. If McLellan can't get more out of them, then I don't think Babcock can do much more. Babcock cannot put on goalie pads and play for the Sharks. I honestly think they are further away from SC than Detroit and that joke of a GM, he wants to trade Wilson for Holland?

From Sharp, Detroit Free Press - Seems Babcock isn't attracting that much interest http://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/drew-sharp/2015/05/17/detroit-red-wings-mike-babcock-drew-sharp/27508683/ Mike Babcock sought a hotter-looking girlfriend. Both parties paved the path for an amicable separation. But by all reported accounts, it doesn't appear Babcock attracted the interest from as many supermodels as he might have thought. That might improve the odds of Babcock inking a new contract with the Wings this week, but how can it not publicly look as though he is settling for the lesser of several competitive ills? It's still stunning that Pittsburgh showed no interest in Babcock, considering Sidney Crosby's vast organizational influence and that the Penguins have the impactful stars Babcock seeks in Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who are under 30. Boston apparently balked as well after missing the playoffs. And then Montreal didn't hesitate endorsing head coach Michel Therrien's return soon after Tampa Bay eliminated the Habs in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The hottest-looking girls weren't interested.

So Babs initiated the conversation with San Jose ... do they still have to sign the 3rd round draft pick compensation letter? I'm guessing yes, how about we take Brent Burns instead for compensation ... haha. Now the best coach in the world is asking for a chance at SJ ?? Seems bizarre to me. Boston didn't come knocking on his door with Julien sitting in limbo. Where those people are who said that 29 other teams would be willing to fire their coach for Babcock. Maybe one thing he is learning about himself is that he's not that the 'best coach' available. I think McLellan might have gotten more interest and he showcased himself well at the Worlds.

Apparently, Mr. I is getting a bit tired of this 'playing the field'. From mlive - http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/05/is_mike_babcock_willing_to_tak.html Is Mike Babcock willing to take less to stay with Detroit Red Wings? Four other clubs in the mix Four clubs have sought permission to speak with Babcock, according to a source – Toronto, Buffalo, St. Louis and San Jose. The Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers, other teams who were expected to make a pitch for Babcock, have not asked for permission to talk to him. The Red Wings offered Babcock a four-year deal worth $3.25 million per season, a significant raise from his previous $2 million a year salary. It would make him the highest-paid coach in NHL history, slightly more than Chicago Blackhawks' Joel Quenneville, who will make $2.9 million next season and $3 million the year after and has two Stanley Cup championships on his resume, compared to one for Babcock. But Babcock could get up to $5 million a season from Toronto or Buffalo. St. Louis and San Jose don't have the financial wherewithal to offer him that much. Owner Mike Ilitch has a reputation for being loyal and treating players and management well, but some in the organization believe the process is getting on his nerves and aren't sure if he will budge on his offer.

Imagine if Babs says to Kenny after the tour, "I want to stay in Detroit". Then Kenny says, "I've been doing some thinking too these couple of weeks and I think it's time to go with Blashill." Do you think Blashill is thinking to himself, 'Mike make your decision already and go'.

Some have included Philadelphia on the list, you can cross that one off .. if they even considered Babs, that is. Flyers hire Hakstol as new head coach http://www.tsn.ca/flyers-hire-hakstol-as-new-head-coach-1.285652 Last stop on the 'Best Coach Available' tour today - San Jose http://www.tsn.ca/sharks-to-meet-with-babcock-1.285509 ... so you want McLellan's reject ?? Seriously?? Only if they fire Doug Wilson first, right ??

Great job McLellan ... you're well on your way to being one of the 'best' coaches in the game!

What if Babs offered to keep Hitch as an assistant out at St. Louis ... Olympic gold coaching staff? Whatever happens Kenny, don't accept a year to year arrangement, maybe he wants to wait for Pittsburgh opening.