Babcock granted permission to talk to other teams

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

I really don't want to lose Blashill for 4 years of Babcock. Will be interesting to see how this all pans out..,

[marcaractac 3,963]

I really don't want to lose Blashill for 4 years of Babcock. Will be interesting to see how this all pans out..,

If Babs stays and we lose Blash, I'm willing to bet Blash makes his way back to the Wings organization down the line.

[gcom007 1,465]

Is the Blashill obsession like the backup goalie and the backup quarterback thing in Detroit?

[HockeytownRules19 902]

Toronto Star reports "Babcock is leaning towards re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings on a short-term basis, a source told the Star."

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2015/05/18/philadelphia-flyers-hire-north-dakotas-dave-hakstol-as-new-head-coach.html

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Toronto Star reports "Babcock is leaning towards re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings on a short-term basis, a source told the Star."

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2015/05/18/philadelphia-flyers-hire-north-dakotas-dave-hakstol-as-new-head-coach.html

Hopefully not true, Toronto Star likes to blow things out of proportion and are usually wrong.

Either Babs for 4-5 years or forget it imo. We shouldn't lose Blashill and Babs.

[RedWingsRox 614]

Toronto Star reports "Babcock is leaning towards re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings on a short-term basis, a source told the Star."

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2015/05/18/philadelphia-flyers-hire-north-dakotas-dave-hakstol-as-new-head-coach.html

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.

Edited May 19, 2015 by RedWingsRox

[evilmrt 636]

Toronto Star reports "Babcock is leaning towards re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings on a short-term basis, a source told the Star."

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2015/05/18/philadelphia-flyers-hire-north-dakotas-dave-hakstol-as-new-head-coach.html

Wow. How short term? 1 year? Very bad news if true. Blashill is almost certainly gone in that scenario.

[kickazz 5,459]

I thought they were supposed to talk today?

I think Babcock is a great coach, but after all this drama it's gonna be a little annoying if he ends up staying.

Though I guess it gives all of us and definitely the media something to blather on about in between playoff games.

The only drama is caused by the media and all of us overthinking.

Babs is window shopping and Holland gave him permission to do so. I think all this was expected eh?

Is the Blashill obsession like the backup goalie and the backup quarterback thing in Detroit?

Thank you. Legace was better than Cujo too.

Edited May 19, 2015 by kickazz

[wings87 1,290]

I don't get the point of a short term deal. Babcock either wants to stay or he doesn't. The Wings shouldn't be a place holder until a better job comes along.

[kickazz 5,459]

I don't get the point of a short term deal. Babcock either wants to stay or he doesn't. The Wings shouldn't be a place holder until a better job comes along.

What about the fact that the organization itself actually WANTS Babcock?

I think people have forgotten the whole scope of this situation and focusing too much on the Babs side of the drama.

We have no idea what the players/leadership core want. Blashill or Babcock or someone else.

We do know the Holland made official statements that they want to keep Babcock. Do we know if they want him for 1 year? 4? 10? No.

We know Babcock wants to see what the options are. Do we actually know if money is the main reason? No. Do we know if he's the one who wants to leave? Does his wife? No.

Can only work with the actual information we have. We don't know who wants the short term contract. Babs or the organization or if it was mutual. And that's assuming if that rumor is even true.

Edited May 19, 2015 by kickazz

[wings87 1,290]

Wow. How short term? 1 year? Very bad news if true. Blashill is almost certainly gone in that scenario.

I don't get the merit of it. Noone benefits from a short deal. Anything under 3 years means Babcock's already got one foot out the door. And from the Wings perspective a short deal means that, they don't think Blashill is a good enough replacement. In which case a short deal buys Holland time to find someone he deems worthy. I don't know the whole thing's weird.

[wings87 1,290]

What about the fact that the organization itself actually WANTS Babcock?

I think people have forgotten the whole scope of this situation and focusing too much on the Babs side of the drama.

We have no idea what the players/leadership core want. Blashill or Babcock or someone else.

We do know the Holland made official statements that they want to keep Babcock. Do we know if they want him for 1 year? 4? 10? No.

We know Babcock wants to see what the options are. Do we actually know if money is the main reason? No. Do we know if he's the one who wants to leave? Does his wife? No.

They can want him all they want, but all a short term deal brings is instability. I'm not saying it's a 1 or 2 year deal, but if it is who does it really benefit? Babcock isn't going to change his coaching style, so it'd be 2 years of the same, and then a new coach would come in and instill his strategy. How does that help the franchise? With a young team there needs to be more stability. Babcock should either stay and continue molding the young guys. Or someone else should. Because changing coaches every couple years, isn't great for the longevity of a franchise. Doesn't matter who wants the deal, I don't think going short is a good idea. Edited May 19, 2015 by wings87

[Datsyukian-Deke 722]

Toronto Star reports "Babcock is leaning towards re-signing with the Detroit Red Wings on a short-term basis, a source told the Star."

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2015/05/18/philadelphia-flyers-hire-north-dakotas-dave-hakstol-as-new-head-coach.html

I really hope Holland isnt stupid enough to sign Babcock to a short term deal and let Blashill walk. That is the worst case scenario imo

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

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.

Edited May 19, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Guys it's the Star reporting it so I wouldn't call them a reliable source. As long as it doesn't come from Lebrun, MacKenz or Dreger.

If they are really going the 1 year root that means both Holland, Babcock and the ownership want to see where this team is and then decide wheter it's time to rebuild or not.

I just hope they don't lose Blashill this year if they do, the Wings better have a plan B because if Tippet,, Hitchcock and Julien become available they'll be signed after minutes.

[kickazz 5,459]

We're assuming too much. Didn't Blashill himself say that he was content with waiting for the moment? I know Holland said he would allow him to talk to other teams but if Babs signs a short term, I don't see why Blash would just leave knowing that he could take over sooner rather than later. He's signed for a few more years I think.

I can see Babs trying for short term to stay around while Pavel Datsyuk finishes out his contract here and while Zetterberg and Kronner drain out their skills as they age. All assumption tho.

Edited May 19, 2015 by kickazz

[amato 3,210]

I agree with the no short term deal BS.. just seems like he's waiting for a Montreal or Pittsburgh or something to open up at this point. I'm not saying blashill is the answer for sure (though he very well could be) but this year is probably the best head coaching free agency we'll see. And every team wants long term stability.. The Toronto media probably just printed that so that even though they lost out on Babcock, they can guess the most obvious of his choices "first" & feel good about themselves at least a little bit

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

The only drama is caused by the media and all of us overthinking.

Babs is window shopping and Holland gave him permission to do so. I think all this was expected eh?

Thank you. Legace was better than Cujo too.

Yep. For those who aren't used to it. This so called "media frenzy" going on right now with Babs is exactly what Toronto players have to deal with on a daily basis.

[xtrememachine1 795]

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.

I don't trust anything that comes out of Toronto. As for Babs, signing a short term deal... here's the thing, he wants to be competitive, I don't think he wants to start all over again, especially some place like Buffalo. If he's not going to a contender, he's staying in Detroit, IMO. As for Blashill, yes, this is exactly like the backup goalie thing again. Legace over Cujo. Conklin over Osgood. Mrazek over Howard. Making Blashill HC, basically says, we're in full blown rebuilding mode. He's a young coach with zero NHL experience. Not a good way to draw in UFAs and not a good way to make Datsyuk and Zetterberg happy.

If Blashill is our coach at the end of the week, Z and D should be traded. They're sticking around to win another championship. They're not in Detroit, playing for less than what they could be getting elsewhere, to help the kids get into the playoffs and get their feet wet. Holland has been kind of straddling the line between contender and rebuild and I think this decision with Babcock will push us either way.

[DRW Dominance 255]

didn't the wings offer babcock 4 years @ 3.25 per year?

that's what i read yesterday.

[amato 3,210]

didn't the wings offer babcock 4 years @ 3.25 per year?

that's what i read yesterday.

Yeah, I believe that was their offer to him before he was granted permission to talk to other teams.

[RedWingsRox 614]

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.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Bob McKenzie, on @TSN690, on Babcock staying in DET: "I think all the signs are pointing to that....He's definitely not coming to Toronto."

So now Leaf fans are saying they are the front runners for Blashill....

They wonder why they are hated soo much. All I have heard at work today was Babcock is going to Toronto and if not they are going to take our "Other" coach. Yes, they say "Other" coach.

[wings87 1,290]

So now Leaf fans are saying they are the front runners for Blashill....

They wonder why they are hated soo much. All I have heard at work today was Babcock is going to Toronto and if not they are going to take our "Other" coach. Yes, they say "Other" coach.

You can't blame them... Blashill is very hard to pronounce. Just be happy your coworkers are housebroken.

[kipwinger 8,522]

This is like an episode of The Bachelor". Everybody is waiting to see if Mike will give Ken Holland the rose.

Puke.