Wings & Babcock working out a contract

[Nev 1,085]

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

We've allowed the fewest goals in the league. What more do you want??????

[Copenhagen848 58]

Mac out another two weeks with a rib injury? What....did he get stabbed in the lung or something?

[evil204 4]

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.

If Babcock is the best coach in the league, all the other coaches must be pretty dumb.

I really hope they wait until after the playoffs to try to sign him.

[lets go pavel 2]

If Babcock is the best coach in the league, all the other coaches must be pretty dumb.

I really hope they wait until after the playoffs to try to sign him.

huh? are you saying babs is dumb? and for any particular reason?

[Mors 201]

My only knock against Babcock is that he continually puts faith in Samuelsson, especially on the point on the PP...completely pointless move that hasn't done s*** ever.

Edited March 18, 2008 by Mors

[LeftWinger 5,153]

My only knock against Babcock is that he continually puts faith in Samuelsson, especially on the point on the PP...completely pointless move that hasn't done s*** ever.

...problem is he has nobody else to put back there and Ken Holland didn't address that at the trade deadline either (considering the prices, rightly so) So he has no choice but to put Sammy there. Maybe Kenny will address it at on UFA day!

[lets go pavel 2]

...problem is he has nobody else to put back there and Ken Holland didn't address that at the trade deadline either (considering the prices, rightly so) So he has no choice but to put Sammy there. Maybe Kenny will address it at on UFA day!

brad stuart?

[Chase 0]

Glad to hear about Babcock. But McCarty out 2 more weeks?? There is no way he is going to be able to step in just before playoff time, or during playoff time, and be able to contribute. I wouldent want him to take a roster spot away from someone who has worked hard all season long to help this team be where they are now for the playoffs. I was all for Mac coming back and playing some during the regular season, to see what he can do, but I do not want him to steal a roster spot away from somebody when the playoffs start when he hasnt played for us all season long.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

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

Name other coaches in this league that have managed the league's top defense in goals against, as well as having two (not one but TWO) goaltenders that have consistently had around the best GAA's in the league for most of this season.

And I want Babcock here as long as possible. As evidence in last year's playoffs, he seems to bring a tough as nails, never quit and work hard approach to the teams he coaches. They may not win all the physical or one-on-one battles, but I absolutely love that he demands a high effort night in and night out.

Edited March 19, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[GoWings1905 2,694]

If Babcock is the best coach in the league, all the other coaches must be pretty dumb.

I really hope they wait until after the playoffs to try to sign him.

Thanks for that well thought-out and insightful response. If Babcock isn't the best coach in the league, do you care to provide any thoughts as to who is? Or are you one of those people where nothing or no one on the Red Wings is ever good enough for you?

I am sure if Babcock was "dumb" as you claim, he wouldn't be getting consideration to coach Canada in the Olympics. Do you know what happens when you "wait" to sign players/coaches? Ask the Buffalo Sabres how that typically turns out.

Mike Babcock should be the coach of the Red Wings for many years to come.

Edited March 19, 2008 by GoWings1905

[dragonballgtz 273]

Name other coaches in this league that have managed the league's top defense in goals against, as well as having two (not one but TWO) goaltenders that have consistently had around the best GAA's in the league for most of this season.

And I want Babcock here as long as possible. As evidence in last year's playoffs, he seems to bring a tough as nails, never quit and work hard approach to the teams he coaches. They may not win all the physical or one-on-one battles, but I absolutely love that he demands a high effort night in and night out.

He is like a young Bowman. With a few more years under his belt any player in the league will do what he says without a second thought. I hope he can continue to make the small players the Red Wings draft play a tough skilled game.

As for McCarty. I don't expect to see him play this year.

Edited March 19, 2008 by dragonballgtz

[ChelisChick 174]

I was so hoping Mac would be ready to go by Thursday so I could see him play in Nashville. Oh well.

[Majsheppard 203]

I don't always see eye to eye with him, but he sticks to his guns and knows the game.

I hope he stays our coach for his entire career, and he wins many cups.

Cheers to Babs!

[Salviaman 104]

I was so hoping Mac would be ready to go by Thursday so I could see him play in Nashville. Oh well.

I will be there in Nashville. I just hope I don't hear the words..."I like it, I love it, I want some more of it.."

[DaKineMaui 8]

If the Wings do not sign him, let's all hope he doesn't just sit on his couch and get fat and lazy during his 0.067 nanoseconds of unemployment.

Sure has a lot of W's for a dumb guy. Lucky to get those 58 wins as a new coach with a team who had their payroll cut in half. Luck.

[Nev 1,085]

Yeah, and he did nowt with that Anaheim team either.

[evil204 4]

Thanks for that well thought-out and insightful response. If Babcock isn't the best coach in the league, do you care to provide any thoughts as to who is? Or are you one of those people where nothing or no one on the Red Wings is ever good enough for you?

I am sure if Babcock was "dumb" as you claim, he wouldn't be getting consideration to coach Canada in the Olympics. Do you know what happens when you "wait" to sign players/coaches? Ask the Buffalo Sabres how that typically turns out.

Mike Babcock should be the coach of the Red Wings for many years to come.

Haha, I guess my post there was pretty useless. But I've talked about it before. Here's a link: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1266206

Maybe the other coaches are even dumber...but this is the only team I watch on a regular basis. And before I get attacked..I don't think Babcock is a terrible coach. He just seems to be completely oblivious to the strategy aspect of hockey sometimes, which leads to the Wings repeating the same mistakes over and over again...like Datsyuk trying to bring the puck in by himself and giving it away. Every time.

[lets go pavel 2]

Haha, I guess my post there was pretty useless. But I've talked about it before. Here's a link: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1266206

Maybe the other coaches are even dumber...but this is the only team I watch on a regular basis. And before I get attacked..I don't think Babcock is a terrible coach. He just seems to be completely oblivious to the strategy aspect of hockey sometimes, which leads to the Wings repeating the same mistakes over and over again...like Datsyuk trying to bring the puck in by himself and giving it away. Every time.

first of all, datsyuk doesn't give the puck away "every time" he carries it into the zone, but more importantly, what makes you think that is babcock's strategy?? most of the time datsyuk or whoever has the puck will pass to an open wing if they have an open pass, but sometimes they can't ... you can't blame every mistake or poor play that happens on the ice on babcock, as if that's exactly how he designed it ...

[evil204 4]

first of all, datsyuk doesn't give the puck away "every time" he carries it into the zone, but more importantly, what makes you think that is babcock's strategy?? most of the time datsyuk or whoever has the puck will pass to an open wing if they have an open pass, but sometimes they can't ... you can't blame every mistake or poor play that happens on the ice on babcock, as if that's exactly how he designed it ...

Last year in the playoffs against the Ducks, especially in Game 6, Datsyuk kept trying to stickhandle into their zone, and he really did give the puck away almost every time. It wasn't necessarily Babcock's strategy, but I would think a good coach would've slapped him around and told him to dump it in when the Ducks are obviously trapping because, as good as Datsyuk is, he won't fake out 4 players. I remember seeing Datsyuk was one of the leaders in giveaways in the playoffs..not sure if it was on our team or overall in the NHL.

And I don't blame every mistake on Babcock, just those that are repeated consistently.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

...it is almost a given that the Wings will re-sign Babcock, but if, for some reason, they don't, Igor Larionov would look wonderful behind that bench!

[lets go pavel 2]

Last year in the playoffs against the Ducks, especially in Game 6, Datsyuk kept trying to stickhandle into their zone, and he really did give the puck away almost every time. It wasn't necessarily Babcock's strategy, but I would think a good coach would've slapped him around and told him to dump it in when the Ducks are obviously trapping because, as good as Datsyuk is, he won't fake out 4 players. I remember seeing Datsyuk was one of the leaders in giveaways in the playoffs..not sure if it was on our team or overall in the NHL.

And I don't blame every mistake on Babcock, just those that are repeated consistently.

i don't remember us having particularly good luck dumping in against the ducks either, but regardless, you're talking about one aspect of one game that doesn't seem to be symptomatic of a greater problem with babcock ... i don't see how that is at all relevant to whether we should re-sign babs, much less a reason to call him dumb ...

[evil204 4]

i don't remember us having particularly good luck dumping in against the ducks either, but regardless, you're talking about one aspect of one game that doesn't seem to be symptomatic of a greater problem with babcock ... i don't see how that is at all relevant to whether we should re-sign babs, much less a reason to call him dumb ...

It's not just one aspect (not one game either - it happened a lot, and it'll happen a lot in the playoffs this year). Did you read my post that I linked to? Babcock just generally sucks at adapting to what the other team is doing. And he's keeping Samuelsson on the point. And he kept Lang on the ice last year.

Anyway, if we get to the Cup finals this year, or even the conference finals, sure..keep him. I guess that would mean he's still more effective than the other coaches in the league. If we lose in the 1st or 2nd round, he needs to go.

Edited March 19, 2008 by evil204

[Deke 0]

Babcock solidified his position in my eyes when he was yelling at the Avs assistant coach. That was great. That's what the wings coach needs to be, energetic and provide a coaching presence.

Babcock isn't ultimately responsible for half the decisions people in this thread are attributing to him. His voice carries a lot of weight, but you've still got Scotty Bowman & Steve Yzerman in the front offices, among others. The Wings have a lot of coaches, Babcock is just the front man. And he's a damn good one too.

[Deke 0]

It's not just one aspect (not one game either - it happened a lot, and it'll happen a lot in the playoffs this year). Did you read my post that I linked to? Babcock just generally sucks at adapting to what the other team is doing. And he's keeping Samuelsson on the point. And he kept Lang on the ice last year.

I agree, that's the biggest flaw in the Wings game. One of the best things about the wings styleis that they never panic and never get off their game. Which works most of the time, but when it doesn't, it bites them in the ass. Sometimes it'd be nice to see a little panic when their game isn't working.

He's getting better though. He changes the lines appropriatetly when things aren't meshing. He'll play variable lines where he just swaps out positions and the lines will overlap. But that really is just a system, not true adaptation. Babcock strikes me as a tried and true, if it ain't broke don't fix it, type of guy. Maybe he needs a bit more creativity to truly be a great coach.

At the end of the day though, Babcock has Bowman at his disposal, so there's more to these things than we think. Bowman doesn't make mistakes.

[lets go pavel 2]

It's not just one aspect (not one game either - it happened a lot, and it'll happen a lot in the playoffs this year). Did you read my post that I linked to? Babcock just generally sucks at adapting to what the other team is doing. And he's keeping Samuelsson on the point. And he kept Lang on the ice last year.

Anyway, if we get to the Cup finals this year, or even the conference finals, sure..keep him. I guess that would mean he's still more effective than the other coaches in the league. If we lose in the 1st or 2nd round, he needs to go.

fair enough, i don't agree with everything you think he should be changing but that's a matter of opinion, no point getting into it over that ... i do agree that there are times it seems like we're not the quickest to adapt, but at the same time when he has success with something i can understand why he'd have faith that it will eventually pay off and would want to stick with it ... just out of curiosity, who would you replace him with?