Wings & Babcock working out a contract

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Holland and Babcock are starting contract talks. Hopefully they keep him for awhile. He's been great for the Wings.

Also, Mac is said to be out a couple more weeks. Might play near the end of the season. *crosses fingers*

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...ck_talking.html

[The Enforcer 13]

I like Babcock. I think he needs a goalie coach though, and possibly a better defensive coach.

[irishtemper14+25 11]

thats a no brainer

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I like Babcock. I think he needs a goalie coach though, and possibly a better defensive coach.

The Wings have a great goalie coach in Jim Bedard.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I like Babcock. I think he needs a goalie coach though, and possibly a better defensive coach.

You really think a different goalie coach is going to do a lot when neither of our goaltenders is under 35? I cant imagine that a new coach would change much of Hasek or Osgoods game.

My only problem with Babcock are his lineup decisions. For example, I think our goaltending would be a lot better if he just made up his mind to go with one goaltender. I dont care which. But personally, I think our biggest issue with goaltending is that he rotates the guys to the point where neither can get a groove going, or get any confidence. Not to mention, what kind of message are you sending to your goaltenders? Neither Osgood or Hasek has to play out of their mind, cause the goaltending rotation is set. If Im Osgood/Hasek, Im probably well aware that whether or not I play out of mind, or I suck absolute ass, Im still going to be starting the game after next. Babs needs to stop being fair and go with the hot hand..er glove. If Osgood/Hasek stands on his head and steals a game, he should start the next game, and the next game, etc, if he keeps up his play. Switch goaltenders when one guy starts to play poorly for a couple games straight..

Defense for me is the least of our problems in terms of coaching. In my opinion, our biggest D problem comes from our lack of varied personnel, meaning, our defense is small and has a hard time containing power forwards and the like. But as far as Im concerned, Lidstrom is our defense coach. He runs the back end, and being that the Red Wings have such a particular system, he more or less controls the play. And outside of our defense being small, the only other problems are see are the brain lapses that some of our players make from time to time. You cant control how somebody thinks in every individual situation under pressure.

As for the forwards, I question his lineup decisions as well, but I dont question how he coaches our forwards one bit. Sammy on the point is a disaster. Sammy getting anything more than 3rd line minutes is a mistake. Keeping Hank and Datsyuk split up when we desperately need goals is a mistake. Things like that I dont agree with, but those are very very small things to complain about in comparison to other coaching staffs around the league..

[thedisappearer 291]

Neither Osgood or Hasek has to play out of their mind, cause the goaltending rotation is set. If Im Osgood/Hasek, Im probably well aware that whether or not I play out of mind, or I suck absolute ass, Im still going to be starting the game after next.

So, you weren't paying attention when Babcock announced a few weeks ago that Dom would start 2/3 of the remaining games? Or when he said before the All Startbreak he would have a set starter with 20 games to go? Psst- a few weeks ago, we had 20 games left. It's been his plan all along. Maybe he was resting his 42 year old goalie for the playoffs.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Babcock hasn't stuck with his plan of playing Dom majority of the rest of the season because of nagging little injuries. I think many forget that Babs likes to only use one goaltender. He's said it countless times. He's rotated majority of this season because Ozzie was playing phenomenal and deserved to keep playing, then Dom got hot so he thought it'd more fair that way. BUT all along he's said at the end he'd play Dom to get him into a groove. The injuries have been a setback, it's nothing to do with Babs wanting to still rotate.

[Heaton 1]

So, you weren't paying attention when Babcock announced a few weeks ago that Dom would start 2/3 of the remaining games? Or when he said before the All Startbreak he would have a set starter with 20 games to go? Psst- a few weeks ago, we had 20 games left. It's been his plan all along. Maybe he was resting his 42 year old goalie for the playoffs.

Exactly, it's not Babcock's fault Hasek got injured and the plan is now screwed up. What's he supposed to do? Throw it out the window and make Osgood the starter because it's "easier"?

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Update from Tuesday's practice: Chris Osgood will start in goal Wednesday at home against Columbus and Dominik Hasek will start the next night in Nashville. Darren Helm was recalled from Grand Rapids because Kris Draper (groin) isn't ready to play. After practicing on Wednesday, Draper will determine if he can play Thursday. If not, he's shooting for Saturday in Columbus. Tomas Holmstrom (strained abdominal muscles) badly wants to get back in the lineup, but the team isn't taking any chances. Coach Mike Babcock said Holmstrom won't play Wednesday and isn't likely to return this week.

[Reds4Life 51]

Babcock is good coach, I hope he will stay with the Wings for long time.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

So, you weren't paying attention when Babcock announced a few weeks ago that Dom would start 2/3 of the remaining games? Or when he said before the All Startbreak he would have a set starter with 20 games to go? Psst- a few weeks ago, we had 20 games left. It's been his plan all along. Maybe he was resting his 42 year old goalie for the playoffs.

Psst. Injuries or now, they still have rotated. Dom doesnt play back to backs. And as evidenced by WhiteLightnings post, he continues to rotate even both goaltenders are healthy.

[Heaton 1]

Psst. Injuries or now, they still have rotated. Dom doesnt play back to backs. And as evidenced by WhiteLightnings post, he continues to rotate even both goaltenders are healthy.

YoungGuns, Hasek was injured past the 60 game mark which screwed up the entire plan to stop rotating.

[hillbillywingsfan 794]

can we please not turn this into ANOTHER goalie thread? thanks

i love babs. he has been great.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

YoungGuns, Hasek was injured past the 60 game mark which screwed up the entire plan to stop rotating.

Yup, youre right. And now that theyre both healthy, he's going with Osgood. Lets see. 9 games left. Osgood - Hasek - Osgood. Still looks like a rotation to me.

[Heaton 1]

Yup, youre right. And now that theyre both healthy, he's going with Osgood. Lets see. 9 games left. Osgood - Hasek - Osgood. Still looks like a rotation to me.

Hasek *just* got healthy.

[wingslogo19 281]

Babs is a great coach, and he needs to stay IMO

Sucks about Mac though, pulling for him to see him in a couple of games near the end of the season

[b.shanafan14 733]

You really think a different goalie coach is going to do a lot when neither of our goaltenders is under 35? I cant imagine that a new coach would change much of Hasek or Osgoods game.

My only problem with Babcock are his lineup decisions. For example, I think our goaltending would be a lot better if he just made up his mind to go with one goaltender. I dont care which. But personally, I think our biggest issue with goaltending is that he rotates the guys to the point where neither can get a groove going, or get any confidence. Not to mention, what kind of message are you sending to your goaltenders? Neither Osgood or Hasek has to play out of their mind, cause the goaltending rotation is set. If Im Osgood/Hasek, Im probably well aware that whether or not I play out of mind, or I suck absolute ass, Im still going to be starting the game after next. Babs needs to stop being fair and go with the hot hand..er glove. If Osgood/Hasek stands on his head and steals a game, he should start the next game, and the next game, etc, if he keeps up his play. Switch goaltenders when one guy starts to play poorly for a couple games straight..

Defense for me is the least of our problems in terms of coaching. In my opinion, our biggest D problem comes from our lack of varied personnel, meaning, our defense is small and has a hard time containing power forwards and the like. But as far as Im concerned, Lidstrom is our defense coach. He runs the back end, and being that the Red Wings have such a particular system, he more or less controls the play. And outside of our defense being small, the only other problems are see are the brain lapses that some of our players make from time to time. You cant control how somebody thinks in every individual situation under pressure.

As for the forwards, I question his lineup decisions as well, but I dont question how he coaches our forwards one bit. Sammy on the point is a disaster. Sammy getting anything more than 3rd line minutes is a mistake. Keeping Hank and Datsyuk split up when we desperately need goals is a mistake. Things like that I dont agree with, but those are very very small things to complain about in comparison to other coaching staffs around the league..

Agree completely. I like Babcock, think he is great coach for a team like the Wings. That said, there are some instances where I think he goes with an old stand-by instead of making adjustments according to the play on the ice. Samuelsson especially. How can a guy that fails to produce and if anything, wastes a spot on a line with Hank continue the whole season playing poorly and still getting top two line minutes. He abandons the point randomly on the powerplay with no one to fill his spot, he goes deking around down low, and even if he does stay at the point he has a hard time keeping the puck in the zone and can't hit the net to save his life. But no matter how poorly he plays, he is still on Hanks line. His poor play sticks out like a sore thumb on Zata's line and his goal production is pitiful.

Same story in goal. I understand we have two aging goaltenders that are both reliable, both deserving by merit the rotation. But when one goalie is hot, you have to ride them, not continue switching off. Earlier in the year when Ozzy was hot in goal, couldn't lose, he still got just every other game, going Hasek struggles, but don't worry, we'll win the next one cause Ozzy will be in goal. That shouldn't happen. Better, hotter glove should play. And its become the same problem as the season has gone on til the end. Ozzy lost most of his games during a stretch when Dom was injured, the Wings were half staffed, and even when he would play out of his mind in goal, the team wouldn't provide offense.

So, at risk of starting up the goalie debate we are all sick and tired of, someone please explain this senario to me:

Hasek starts out the season slow

+ Ozzy starts out hot

50/50

Hasek gets injured

+ Ozzy plays great

Hasek returns and gets 60/40 to get him back going

Hasek plays great

+ Ozzy loses the hot hand

50/50

Hasek gets injured again

+ Ozzy plays great while the team plays like crap

Dom earns playoff call and will play the majority of the season when he isn't injured

Why did we stick to 50/50 in the spots we did, and how does an oft injured, old Hasek who hasn't earned his spot, get the playoff nod over a steady Osgood? This is where Babcock's coaching is called into question when those who don't earn, continue to recieve ice time. Do we really want to ride an injury prone goaltender who may or may not be in the mood to play, but still wants to be called the starter going into the playoffs?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I like Babcock. I think he needs a goalie coach though, and possibly a better defensive coach.

You really think he needs a better defensive coach? I know the Wings haven't been that great defensively lately, but I think that's due in great part to the injuries.

Honestly I think he has this Red Wings lineup playing well above their level of talent defensively.

I still don't get the Sammy on the PP point instead of Stuart, but other than that, all in all I think he's been great.

Edited March 18, 2008 by haroldsnepsts

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Call me a homer, but Mike Babcock is the best coach in the league. He really transformed the Red Wings from the time he took over up until now.

I hope they get this contract extension done. Babcock is a great coach, and a perfect fit for the Red Wings.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

...well as long as thier is a provision stating that he must coach Sergei Fedorov for the next 4 years...

Edited March 18, 2008 by LeftWinger

[kylee 727]

Babcock is good coach, I hope he will stay with the Wings for long time.

agreed.

but mac out two more weeks?

i just dont want him to get set up to a point where people are expecting him come into the line up and tear goalies up in the playoffs...

i just want to see him play in games before the playoffs, remember, he hasn't played in any NHL games all season!

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I like Babcock. I think he needs a goalie coach though, and possibly a better defensive coach.

Hasek would make a great goalie coach for Osgood and Howard next year.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Hasek *just* got healthy.

That doesnt change the fact that the only time there have been few times this season where the Wings werent rotating. A month into the season, Osgood was the clear #1. And even when Hasek was not injured, the Wings were still rotating, despite many stellar, game stealing performances from Osgood.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Hasek would make a great goalie coach for Osgood and Howard next year.

Actually, I think Hasek would be a terrible goaltending coach for Howard. The last thing we need is a young goaltender in todays NHL playing the noodles style.

[Guest Crymson]

I like Babcock. I think he needs a goalie coach though, and possibly a better defensive coach.

What, to fix the defense that has us leading the league in defense points, least in the league in shots against and least in the league in goals against?

A goalie coach? To train two of the best goalies of the last two decades?

Sheesh. What are you drinking this morning?