Is Mike Babcock the issue?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

While listening to 97.1 during the day, the proposal that Mike Babcock was a factor in both Parise and Suter not signing with the Wings came about. I thought it to be ridiculous, but could that be a factor? Not sure why anyone would even suggest that, as Babcock isn't known as a John Tortorella or Mike Keane kind of coach.

[VM1138 1,921]

No. The fact was, they wanted to play together. Parise signed first, with his home team, for considerably more than the Wings offered (which was under 90 million), and Suter, though he was considering the Wings, decided to play closer to home with an old friend.

Simple as that. We were in the final cut but family and friends and a little bit more cash tipped the scales. If Babcock were the problem we never would have gotten as close as we did to Suter.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

WoW 25 years and I've never seen the panic level this high for our fans!

[Guest Heaten]

American born players refusing to play for team Canada's coach? Makes sense.

Edited July 5, 2012 by Heaten

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

American born players refusing to play for team Canada's coach? Makes sense.

After all, Babcock supposedly hates American players, right?

I still can't believe that rumor ever surfaced a few years back.

[Jaymister 71]

Sounds like they're just eating up air time.

[Trapt1307 81]

Absolute nonsense. The guys on 97.1 generally have no clue what they're talking about, especially when it comes to hockey. Terry Foster repeatedly caled Suter Sutter the other day. He sounds like a complete moron when he tries to talk sports period, let alone hockey.

I'm pretty sure I saw an NHL player poll last year that asked players which coaches they would most like to play for and Babcock was either second or third (I think second).

These guys wanted to go home, simple as that. Not much the Wings could do outside of offer more money, which would have been stupid (they're both already grossly overpaid IMO).

Edited July 5, 2012 by Trapt1307

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

If Mike Commodore could agree to come here and sit in the press box most of the year, I don't see Babcock as much of a problem. Yes he's only been on a small handful of teams (unlike say Scotty Bowman who moved around a lot), but he is probably THE premier Head Coach in the league today ability-wise, probably along with Hitch. Just my opinion though. I think this Parise/Suter situation was simply something that would only end one way unfortunately.

[ogreslayer 1,069]

Absolute nonsense. The guys on 97.1 generally have no clue what they're talking about, especially when it comes to hockey. Terry Foster repeatedly caled Suter Sutter the other day. He sounds like a complete moron when he tries to talk sports period, let alone hockey.

I'm pretty sure I saw an NHL player poll last year that asked players which coaches they would most like to play for and Babcock was either second or third (I think second).

These guys wanted to go home, simple as that. Not much the Wings could do outside of offer more money, which would have been stupid (they're both already grossly overpaid IMO).

That was a poll done by the CBC with the NHLPA. Bylsma was first with 21%. Babs was 2nd with 18%:

http://www.cbc.ca/sp...nt-to-play-for/

From there it drops to Tippet at 9%. Babcock an issue? Highly doubtful.

Edited July 5, 2012 by ogreslayer

[brandon27 111]

No way that's the case. The media is ridiculous. Babcock is one of the most respected coaches in hockey. Jeez... people need to relax

[13dangledangle 968]

Yeah seems like their grasping straws on that one, but hey I guess there has to be a reason right? It's not like they just didn't want to come to Detroit?!

[Jasper84 333]

97.1 is funny. I absolutely hate listening to them, especially when it's hockey related, but sometimes I have to anyways just for the comedy. It's like when you can't stop sucking air through a painful tooth. But whats worse than them is the people who actually call in to talk about the Wings. 1 out of 15 people seem knowledgable, the other 14 maybe watch 5 games a season (max).

[SwedeLundin77 460]

[wingslogo19 281]

_{Babcock is not the problem. This pretty much is like the LeBron James and Bosh and Wade only this time there's only 2 guys, they wanted to play together and I'm sure that they knew where they wanted to sign}

[IllinoisRedWingsFan 49]

What a waste of air time. Seriously it was just the thing that Suter and Parise wanted to go home.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

Did Babcock scare away the UFA's? Did Holland low-ball them? Are they scared of 8 Mile Road? Did Fedorov's and McCarty's past gambling problems scare them off? Do they not like dirty slushy snow? Were they scared that if they said "******" in Michigan, that it would mean they'd be barred from speaking on the House floor? Do they hate pot-holes? Did Eminem's music make them think that Detroit is a cesspool of crime and indecency? Do we not love our athletes enough? What did we do wrong, how can we fix it, on my God.... I think the world is coming to an end!!!

Silly silly fans... let's stop smoking crack and move on now.

[Guest Crymson]

In a word: no.

[metalkorn 45]

I didn't realize that there were internet forums for people to talk on 25 years ago.

[amato 3,210]

Babcock wasn't a factor in them not signing.. Although I have heard that most of the players don't like him very much....

[Dabura 12,232]

In a word: no.

[GMRwings1983 8,803]

Basically, Parise and Suter are gayer than Ryu and Ken, and they wanted to play together.

I doubt they'd have anything against Babcock.

[Guest Crymson]

Babcock wasn't a factor in them not signing.. Although I have heard that most of the players don't like him very much....

From whom did you hear this? Andy Strickland?

[Guest Hatethedrake!]

Babcock wasn't a factor in them not signing.. Although I have heard that most of the players don't like him very much....

Who told you that? Your imaginary friend named Al Strachan?

[Red Wings Addict 787]

Babcock wasn't a factor in them not signing.. Although I have heard that most of the players don't like him very much....

You're not really supposed to like your coach.

[number9 3,297]

You're not really supposed to like your coach.

Straight up truth

You are supposed to like your teammates though. To me it was all about them playing together. People tend to forget that players are people. In hockey and other sports I enjoyed myself wayyyyyy more when I was on teams with all my buddies. If I'm going somewhere for 13 years, where Suter goes... and how well I'm going to like whose on the team... will definitely be a large part of my decision.

though I will say this.....I was on a team where i loved all my teammates and the coach, we did awful. Then I was on another team where I still liked everyone, just not as much, and I HATED our coach...won 2 championships with that bastard. Babcock will lead us to victory, he is not the problem.

Edited July 6, 2012 by number9