PavelValerievichDatsyuk

I think you've conflated a lot of people's speculation with what Babcock actually said. The new(ish) 24 hours Media will speculate. It is what they do. Look at Flight MH370. Less information actually leads to more speculation often. I'll bet that the TSN interview was actually an ill-advised attempt to curb some of the speculation by saying what he's actually thinking.

A one year deal is fine with me. Babcock said last year that he'd be fine going year to year. We can just mutually go separate ways after whatever year is over. As Babcock said at some point, It's what Bowman did here for his last few years. Blashill is signed through 16-17. He signed that 3 year deal last June. Why would he sign that deal if he desperately wanted to take the next step and get out of the AHL as soon as possible.

In the playoffs it was great 93.3% (2nd in the league - though ranking doesn't matter that much in the playoffs when teams haven't played the same # of games) It was great for the first half as well, but dipped in the second half. I think a lot of that was due to goaltending problems.

I must have missed that. But, yeah he has an uphill battle and I doubt he figures in the future.

Both Helm and Abby will only be 33 in 5 years. I think these 2 will definitely still be around as the veterans with Z. Ericsson will be 36 in 5 years and I think he has a good chance to still be around. Maybe even the 36 year old Miller. Also, McKee has been playing Defence at Western Michigan and I doubt that Lashoff will still be around.

Markov, tyutin, voynov(maybe not in NHL anymore).

I'll let Wikipedia's intro paragraphs show the "some reason": I just took title acheivements. Babcock: "As of May 2015, he is the only coach to gain entry to the Triple Gold Club, guiding his Red Wings to the Stanley Cup in 2008, as well as leading Team Canada to gold at the IIHFIce Hockey World Championships in 2004, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Babcock is the only coach to win five national or international titles, guiding Canada to gold at the IIHF World Junior Championships in 1997 and the University of Lethbridge to theCIS University Cup in 1994." Bylmsa: "On June 12, 2009, four months after becoming head coach in Pittsburgh, Bylsma led the Penguins to their third Stanley Cup Championship winning in 7 games over the Detroit Red Wings." Hitchcock: "He coached the Stars to a Stanley Cup victory in 1999. He also served as an assistant coach for the 2014 Canadian Olympic Hockey Team." McClennan: "former head coach of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League.[1]" Carlyle: He won the Stanley Cup in 2007 with his previous team, the Anaheim Ducks.[3] I think if you step back from your anti-Bab position you'd realize why he's being covered the way he is. He's kind of a star especially because the olympic wins brought him into the limelight. He's also in this rare situation where he's a coach who's looking for jobs without having been fired by a team (usually a non-playoff team). Babcock has done a lot for this team so he deserves the right to explore other jobs. This is the soonest time he could have talked to other teams and helped us out by not waiting to free agency. The media is obnoxious, though, but that's the nature of mass media.

Zetterberg, Sheahan or Weiss (very unlikely 3rd option) An idea would be for Zetterberg to take faceoffs and then switch to the wing beside Sheahan if Z really can't be center (I don't think that's necessarily the case - he was good in the first half). then we could give Weiss a shot at the 3rd Center or Helm could move back to 3C. lots of options with the current lineup. Signing Soderberg or anyone upfront pushes Pulkkinen or Jurco out of the lineup (assuming 1 of either Franzen or Weiss are back next year).

Ah, I must have read the rules incorrectly at some point. Thanks for clearing it up.

Okay, I see that. It will be hard for the Wings to manage the D pairing with the prospects on deck. I think most would agree that the D needs an upgrade, though. Next year, I think there will be a slight upgrade with Marchenko up full-time and growth of DK and Smith. Then, in 16-17 we'll have rookies replacing Quincey and Kindl with all the mistakes that go along a first full year. If we just stay the course and wait for the prospects, realistically(or hopefully), 17-18 could be the year for a really solid D corps. In this situation, Smith seems to me to be in the most precarious position. He hasn't looked top 4 worthy and our bottom pair/#7 will be the young prospects in 16-17. Marchenko could claim a top 4 spot next year, which would make the situation better, but I think that's unlikely. We could just put off re-signing Smith until after free agency. To me, replacing him with Franson or Ehrhoff would be much more solid going forward and would help with the lefty-righty problem. If we lure one of them in, then either trade Smith's rights or trade/waive Kindl and sign Smith to a 1 year deal. I also think that 1 of Ouellet, Jensen, Sproul won't make the big show. Then again, with all players in competition, a trade does seem a possibility. I also want to augment what I said about Green. Our PP was #2 so we don't need to pay up for a PP specialist. I'd have to know more about how he contributes 5-on-5 to see if would be a worthwhile addition. That's true. Zidlicky could be a good stop gap measure. His struggles in the playoffs make me wary, though.

2.45 million against the cap for the next 6 years (you half the caphit and double the years). I think that would be a horrible move. Especially since he's not taking a spot from a more productive prospect. trade him or play him on the 3rd line.

While I agree the team will look similar I do think some of the UFAs could help. Franson would at least be a #4 for us, maybe #3. May not be amazing, but he would certainly help. His benching could help bring down his price tag. Assuming that Quincey moves on after next year it could be an important addition for the top 4. Don't know a lot about Petry, but Quincey seems to have quieted all the detractors except for you. If Petry is a RH version of the current Quincey at 26, count me in. Green will probably be too expensive, but Wings need an offensive guy and that's what he is. We saw the difference Zidlicky made when he first came in. Injury prone isn't ideal, but have some great prospects who need NHL time and could fill in. On a shorter term contract, it could be a great signing. He may have been on their 3rd pairing, but he had 45pts. That more than all the players that played on our 3rd paired combined (Kindl, Smith, Zidlicky, Ouelette, Marchenko,) I want to add that to the team. He also had the highest +/- on the Capitals with +15. This is due to his use on the powerplay and offensive situations, but also shows that his defensive deficiencies don't really matter if he's used in the right situations Erhoff is another good option. He's 32 and has had some injuries, but under for 4 years or less, I think he'd be a great addition.

Okay. I think "pushed for Stephen Weiss two years ago." is a bit different than it being a Babcock signing. The article says he's involved in every free agent signing. I'm sure Holland is the decision maker and Babcock's voice can sway a decision just like Ryan Martin, Draper, Chelios, Devellano (though his might have more weight than others).

I looked it up and I can't find anything that says this. Alfie, Monster, Brunner, Glendening, and Dekeyser were all great signings.

Where's the link? Hockey's Future still has the top 10 that's quite different: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospect-rankings/ Or is a ranking of NCAA players? Edit: found the link myself: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/123187/top-50-nhl-prospects-reinhart-vasilevskiy-lead-top-10-section-spring-ranking/#/slide/8

Hmm, It's an interesting idea. His numbers aren't way above Sheahan's, but he's looked great the little I've seen him. He's an ironman which we've learned matters a lot with signing UFAs. Why is he a UFA after only 2 years (+6 games)? I guess cause he's about to turn 30? Undrafted, I guess. I found this link that says his negatives are that he's a #3 center on the Bruins and will get PAID. That comment turns me off. We don't need another good #3 (Sheahan, Helm, Weiss?). A number 2 center would be big for us. Also, he's not very good in the face off circle. http://thehockeywriters.com/the-free-agent-debate-on-boston-bruins-carl-soderberg/ Any reports on how much it would take to sign him?

McLellan seems to have made a good impression on Hall and Eberle at Worlds. They interviewed him there. Babs is there too. He could have said of the record he wasn't interested. Who knows. http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/05/08/terry-jones-taylor-hall-and-jordan-eberle-sing-praise-for-todd-mclellan

Lesson #1: Realgud translates as Tresbun

Getting farther off topic, but I found it interesting when I checked the roster: both Dan Bylsma and Chris Kunitz played for that 03-04 Mighty Ducks team. A rare instance of playing with your coach (now former coach). Also intereting that Babcock coached these future coaches in his Anaheim years: Adam Oates Dan Bylsma Steve Thomas (ass. for Tampa) Sorry, I was bored.....

Fedorov is GM of CSKA Moscow. Don't think he has any ownership in it Yeah, Feds was on the 03-04 Ducks that missed the playoffs after making it to the Finals the year before.

It wouldn't be butts in the seats (I think The Oilers sell out even though they're at the bottom) It would be trying to keep their jobs and respond to the ire of the public. Also, They surely want a taste of the money that a playoff run would bring in. Not to mention that a successful team brings in more for merchandise. With that, they would easily make back the 2.5 million extra. Now I'm not saying a less expensive option couldn't get them to the playoffs. Babs would probably be the safest bet.

Not invisible at all.

I don't get the money argument. Coaches don't count against the cap. When you're paying 70+ million for players you know they've got the extra money. Anyway, they're an organization under great scrutiny by the media and fans - they wouldn't scrimp to turn it around. Just Babcock's name would bring them some much needed good publicity.

Garrison shoots Left There have been some good righties available. Not sure I'd want Niskanen's contract and the Myers trade would have taken too much, imo. Stralman would've been great and Boyle too though he's a short-term answer. I'm still hoping Erhoff, Franson, Green this year.

If I'm Babcock and my choices are oilers, leafs, sabres, flyers, without a doubt i'm choosing the oilers. With their young talent they're bound to turn things around (even thouugh recent history has suggested otherwise. Add to that, McDavid and a new GM who can draft. I think he'd be able to whip their defensive game into shape and they could turn things around. Then he could be a hero right close to his hometown. That would be a storyline that would be very tempting. Leafs and Sabres are too far down the rebuilding hole. Flyers have a young core but there's been so many bad moves from their management that it would turn me off. I know Holmgren was responsible for most of them and he's now promoted, but he's still there and they're still stuck with Lecavalier. Hextall is unproven as an NHL GM. So far, the Hartnell trade was a bit of a head-scratcher for me though he did have a rough 12-13 and I don't know how Umberger has been for them. Then again, if I'm Babcock, I'd never leave the Wings,