Babcock "I don't think it will be my final year here"

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

2 Stanley Cups, 2 Olympic Golds, Never missed the playoff in Detroit, Somehow milked the team into the playoffs the last 2 seasons with an inconsistant and injury depleted roster and missing the best defenseman ever to play the game... No Babcock no playoff streak anymore!! Shall I go on? There are people and players you bargain hard with... and others you simply do not. Babcock in my opinion is one you do not. He it battle tested, tried and true... he has done nothing but lead and win EVERYWHERE he has coached... this resume doesn't grow on tree's. Not making Babcock happy and running with a green horn over a few million dollars is a massive failure IMO. Question Babs do and don'ts but see that there is always improvement and realize there is no one in the world with his pedigree!! Think about the number of Assistant Coaches under Babcock that have gone on to be quite successfull themselves and understand that is from apprenticing with the master! Maybe, MAYBE it's all smoke an mirrors right now and Holland really is about to unveil a master plan that would allow a team like Toronto (or who ever is desparate for a coach) to have exclusive rights to negotiate with Blashill (Knowing Babs will be signed and Holland can not be that stupid to let him get away) IN EXCHANGE for some deal for a player that we NEED (Top 4 D? Legit Power Forward? who knows) and would not be able to get otherwise. The growth in Detroit is visibly obvious over the last 2 seasons, some health and a piece or 2 and we did an on the fly reinvention and not a complete bust and suck and suck and suck and get better and get better and get better (maybe see Edmonton)

Ya... so I think Holland is dumb right now and Babcock NEEDS to stay here... no I am not getting paid by Babs either but if he is in the market to adopt a 40 year old son that think he is god then < here I am! Waitng to be adopted!

1 Stanley cup. I've mentioned his questionable moves, whether or not you agree is your opinion. I just think a change of scenery would be good for both parties. His Stanley cup and Olympic teams were stacked btw.

[kliq 3,763]

The main article right now on ESPN Hockey is "The outcome of the negotiations between Mike Babcock and the Red Wings could have far-reaching effects when it comes to the salaries of the game's coaches.

The more I think about it, I dont think this is a Holland/Babcock thing, I think Ilitch is probably giving his two cents, and it wouldn't surprise me if Ilitch is getting pressure from other owners to not go too high. Once the bar is set for the highest paid coach, the #2, #3, #4 etc. are not too far behind. It can change the entire landscape.

[Guest DeGraa55]

The main article right now on ESPN Hockey is "The outcome of the negotiations between Mike Babcock and the Red Wings could have far-reaching effects when it comes to the salaries of the game's coaches.

The more I think about it, I dont think this is a Holland/Babcock thing, I think Ilitch is probably giving his two cents, and it wouldn't surprise me if Ilitch is getting pressure from other owners to not go too high. Once the bar is set for the highest paid coach, the #2, #3, #4 etc. are not too far behind. It can change the entire landscape.

I think that's interesting but at the same time. Most other major hockey teams can afford 3m as well as us.

Toronto Mtl nyr NYI pit Boston Chicago lak van I'm sure will have no trouble with a 3m dollar coach it's the rest of the league that's struggling all ready that does like Florida or Phoenix.

[LeftWinger 5,090]

well then uncle Gary will just have to step in and lock out the coaches until they agree to a salary cap...

[AtlantaHotWings 1,110]

well then uncle Gary will just have to step in and lock out the coaches until they agree to a salary cap...

Let Babs represent the coaches with his asst coaches being Sutter and Hitch vs Gary and his evil minions.....

Bettman explodes under the Babcock unblinking stare and the hockey world rejoices....making Holland to pay even more

[vladdy16 2,154]

The length of the contract may have something to do with Blashill. Possibly Kenny promised him he wouldn't have to wait past a certain period of time to move up into the big time.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

The main article right now on ESPN Hockey is "The outcome of the negotiations between Mike Babcock and the Red Wings could have far-reaching effects when it comes to the salaries of the game's coaches.

The more I think about it, I dont think this is a Holland/Babcock thing, I think Ilitch is probably giving his two cents, and it wouldn't surprise me if Ilitch is getting pressure from other owners to not go too high. Once the bar is set for the highest paid coach, the #2, #3, #4 etc. are not too far behind. It can change the entire landscape.

I don't really agree with ESPN's take there (shocking I know). Vancouver gave Tortorella $2 million for 5 years when he had just been fired and had little market value. If anything I think that had a greater impact because a crap coach like Torts could pull down that kind of money, half the coaches in the league deserves an equal paycheck. This deal only sets the bar for a few coaches in the NHL in terms of comparables.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

1 Stanley cup. I've mentioned his questionable moves, whether or not you agree is your opinion. I just think a change of scenery would be good for both parties. His Stanley cup and Olympic teams were stacked btw.

No matter how often that gets repeated, that doesn't diminish the accomplishment. Who was the last coach to win the Stanley Cup without a very good team?

Not to mention Babcock made it to the finals in 2003 with what was far from a stacked team. And it wasn't just because of goaltending.

I can understand not agreeing with his coaching decisions, but the downplaying of his accomplishments here has gotten a little silly.

In the NHL he's won 1 Stanley Cup, made the Finals two other times (with two different teams), and made the conference finals once. Not bad in 11 years as head coach.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

The length of the contract may have something to do with Blashill. Possibly Kenny promised him he wouldn't have to wait past a certain period of time to move up into the big time.

This is exactly what I think is happening. Babcock wants 5 years, but Wings only want to give him 2-3 years.

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

No matter how often that gets repeated, that doesn't diminish the accomplishment. Who was the last coach to win the Stanley Cup without a very good team?

Not to mention Babcock made it to the finals in 2003 with what was far from a stacked team. And it wasn't just because of goaltending.

I can understand not agreeing with his coaching decisions, but the downplaying of his accomplishments here has gotten a little silly.

In the NHL he's won 1 Stanley Cup, made the Finals two other times (with two different teams), and made the conference finals once. Not bad in 11 years as head coach.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think any other coach would have won back to back golds or been able to get Crosby to play defensive hockey. He is a great coach I just think he's got to move on. I wasn't trying to downplay anything just saying his team's were stacked, it wasn't like he pulled a miracle out of his ass

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Don't get me wrong, I don't think any other coach would have won back to back golds or been able to get Crosby to play defensive hockey. He is a great coach I just think he's got to move on. I wasn't trying to downplay anything just saying his team's were stacked, it wasn't like he pulled a miracle out of his ass

Honestly in 2003 he kind of did pull a miracle out of his ass. Which is probably why the Wings hired him.

[VM1138 1,921]

Playoffs for the Wings last year was a miracle. 2003 was a miracle. And no other team, stacked or not, has made back to back Cup appearances recently except Pittsburgh.

[kliq 3,763]

I don't really agree with ESPN's take there (shocking I know). Vancouver gave Tortorella $2 million for 5 years when he had just been fired and had little market value. If anything I think that had a greater impact because a crap coach like Torts could pull down that kind of money, half the coaches in the league deserves an equal paycheck. This deal only sets the bar for a few coaches in the NHL in terms of comparables.

Any record breaking deal has an effect on the entire pool of coaches, its a way to raise the mean.

[ilmickeyli 40]

I wonder if they can pay Babs 2.5M or 3 (whatever KH currently makes).. and then on top either offer him lifetime pizza or offer him some free franchises that someone else manages and he just gets the profits??? Pizza Pizza

[gcom007 1,465]

Does anyone really think they'd send Babcock packing for Blashill so long as Babcock wants to be here?

If you have the best coach in the game wanting to be your coach long-term, you're not playing games with him because you don't want to lose your minor league coach, and you're not running around making promises to your minor league coach about taking over the big job.

I get that we like Blashill. I get that all parties involved have every reason to be happy with what he's done. I am not trying to criticize or minimize the guy at all. He probably deserves to be an NHL coach at this point, and likely will be soon one way or another.

But we're talking about Mike Babcock here.

Mike Babcock.

Like the guy or not, I don't think there's any question that he's the best coach in the NHL right now, and by that measure, it's pretty safe to say that he's the top coach in the game of hockey.

Mike Babcock will be with the Red Wings for as long as he wants to be with the Red Wings, it's as simple as that. Anyone who really thinks otherwise hasn't really thought through the fundamentals of the situation enough.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think any other coach would have won back to back golds or been able to get Crosby to play defensive hockey. He is a great coach I just think he's got to move on. I wasn't trying to downplay anything just saying his team's were stacked, it wasn't like he pulled a miracle out of his ass

Why? Well, better put, why would the Red Wings think that? I could understand and come up with plenty of reasons why Babcock might want to move on at some point, for him, but I can't think of a single reason why the Red Wings would have any interest in having him move on at any point in the near future.

And for f***'s sake, the Red Wings didn't get rid of Holland after 4-5 years of s***ty off-seasons, why in the hell would they, especially the freshly signed Holland, want to ditch the guy who coached teams into the playoffs the last two years that really kinda maybe shouldn't have been playoff teams? I cannot say it enough, the idea that the Wings would want to move on from Babcock in light of what he's accomplished, his status as a/the top coach, and what he's done with our kids the last couple years makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Edited October 29, 2014 by gcom007

[Guest DeGraa55]

Does anyone really think they'd send Babcock packing for Blashill so long as Babcock wants to be here?

If you have the best coach in the game wanting to be your coach long-term, you're not playing games with him because you don't want to lose your minor league coach, and you're not running around making promises to your minor league coach about taking over the big job.

I get that we like Blashill. I get that all parties involved have every reason to be happy with what he's done. I am not trying to criticize or minimize the guy at all. He probably deserves to be an NHL coach at this point, and likely will be soon one way or another.

But we're talking about Mike Babcock here.

Mike Babcock.

Like the guy or not, I don't think there's any question that he's the best coach in the NHL right now, and by that measure, it's pretty safe to say that he's the top coach in the game of hockey.

Mike Babcock will be with the Red Wings for as long as he wants to be with the Red Wings, it's as simple as that. Anyone who really thinks otherwise hasn't really thought through the fundamentals of the situation enough.

Why? Well, better put, why would the Red Wings think that? I could understand and come up with plenty of reasons why Babcock might want to move on at some point, for him, but I can't think of a single reason why the Red Wings would have any interest in having him move on at any point in the near future.

And for f***'s sake, the Red Wings didn't get rid of Holland after 4-5 years of s***ty off-seasons, why in the hell would they, especially the freshly signed Holland, want to ditch the guy who coached teams into the playoffs the last two years that really kinda maybe shouldn't have been playoff teams? I cannot say it enough, the idea that the Wings would want to move on from Babcock in light of what he's accomplished, his status as a/the top coach, and what he's done with our kids the last couple years makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Ok so in everything you sai you believe the wings want Babcock. So if they want him so bad and the difference is so minimal why not give him what he wants? Were talking about ONE YEAR and a few hundred tgousand(literally pocket change for illitch). So why play games with him? Since he is the best coach in hockey(even with his absolutely assesnine lineups).

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

I wonder if they can pay Babs 2.5M or 3 (whatever KH currently makes).. and then on top either offer him lifetime pizza or offer him some free franchises that someone else manages and he just gets the profits??? Pizza Pizza

They did offer him the exact same deal Ken Holland just signed, term and dollars. Although I don't think they threw in any little Caesar's franchises in the deal.

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

I'll admit that before last year, I was ready to see a change behind the bench. It didn't seem to me like there was motivation to continue doing a good job...from coach or players. Last season fixed that for me. What that team accomplished with the resources they had gave me one thought...60 more years for Babcock!

[kliq 3,763]

Ok so in everything you sai you believe the wings want Babcock. So if they want him so bad and the difference is so minimal why not give him what he wants? Were talking about ONE YEAR and a few hundred tgousand(literally pocket change for illitch). So why play games with him? Since he is the best coach in hockey(even with his absolutely assesnine lineups).

If the difference really is that small, i'm sure Babcock will be signing an extension as soon as the season is over. If there is a hangup, I'm guessing its the term.

[Fedorovfan 25]

If the Wings either don't make the playoffs or are bounced early would it be that bad to see Babs go?

[gcom007 1,465]

The Wings look like a playoff team to me right now. If they don't suffer too many serious injuries, they're going to easily make the playoffs this year.

Whether they're bounced early or not doesn't matter so much. They're looking much more solid right now in many ways, and that's what matters. I think they'll do alright in the playoffs if this keeps up. They might not make a run, but I think it'll go better than last year.

Edited October 30, 2014 by gcom007

[Internet.Unknown 422]

The Wings look like a playoff team to me right now. If they don't suffer too many serious injuries, they're going to easily make the playoffs this year.

Shhh! You're going to jinx it.

[Smite 399]

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger

· 6h6 hours ago

As reported on Insider Trading, sources say Det is willing to make Babcock highest pd coach (4-5yr term). Offer has to be made and accepted.

Take it for what it is worth but Dreger is usually right on.

[Euro_Twins 4,485]

Take it for what it is worth but Dreger is usually right on.

Ya but Detroit low balls everyone and Datsyuk is going back to Russia

[rick zombo 3,739]

I'm not too worried about Babcock.

Leftwinger can always take over the coaching duties if need be.