kipwinger 8,440 Report post Posted September 11, 2016 Here's an interesting tidbit... "While Mike Babcock was still coaching the Detroit Red Wings, during their exit interviews both Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk told management that they wouldn’t re-sign with the Red Wings while Babcock was still coaching the team." http://www.torontosun.com/2016/09/10/encarnacion-will-be-in-high-demand-in-off-season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joesuffP 1,746 Report post Posted September 11, 2016 This makes no sense Z was locked up long term and Dats resigned a contract 1 PavelValerievichDatsyuk reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kickazz 5,459 Report post Posted September 11, 2016 (edited) Actually it does make sense if you look at the original quote. "Why it was time for Mike Babcock to leave the Red Wings: In exit interviews in different seasons before this one, both Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk told management they would not re-sign with the Wings if Babcock was still the coach." It says "in different seasons". It could have been anytime in the span of the 10 years that they played. I'm guessing Datsyuk must have said something when he signed the contract extension in 2013. Anyways, it's common knowledge that Babcock wasn't a player favorite. This just adds to the list of things. Edited September 12, 2016 by kickazz Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935 Report post Posted September 12, 2016 Actually it does make sense if you look at the original quote. "Why it was time for Mike Babcock to leave the Red Wings: In exit interviews in different seasons before this one, both Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk told management they would not re-sign with the Wings if Babcock was still the coach." It says "in different seasons". It could have been anytime in the span of the 10 years that they played. I'm guessing Datsyuk must have said something when he signed the contract extension in 2013. Anyways, it's common knowledge that Babcock wasn't a player favorite. This just adds to the list of things. Even if they said it in years before they re-signed, Babcock was still the coach the following year and they both re-signed, so that doesn't quite make sense. It would bring it together if the writer put something like "Holland had to talk them out of this stance." But there's problems with it the way it is. Even though that sportswriter is on TSN often and seems reliable, the Toronto Sun is a daily tabloid so I would have to hear it from somewhere else before I trusted it. It doesn't seem that far-fetched, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kickazz 5,459 Report post Posted September 12, 2016 (edited) It does make you wonder though. Ken Holland has given some "higher paid" or "higher length" contracts for players he really wanted to keep this summer. When Babcock went to him and told him what Toronto offered him ($6 million), Holland didn't seem to budge on his $4 million dollar offer. If he really wanted him, you would think he would have matched the offer (it wouldn't have dented the Illitch's purse that's for sure)... I really do wonder if the players expressed issues about Babcock in their exit interviews with Holland. I mean, I don't know if Z and D would go and say "it's either us or him". But I wouldn't be surprised if they said "We would like a new voice, we think it's time for Babcock to move on" Edited September 12, 2016 by kickazz 2 PavelValerievichDatsyuk and kliq reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted September 12, 2016 I don't think Simmons is the most respected guy in the business, but I also don't think he's an Eklund type either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites