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Babcock up for Bid: Who is Willing to Pay the Price?


hf101

  

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  1. 1. Who Hires Babcock for next season?

    • Detroit RedWings
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Boston Bruins
      0
    • New York Islanders
      0
    • San Jose Sharks
      0
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Other?
      0


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There's some interesting stuff out there right now for the Babcock Sweepstakes.  Apparently Detroit has allowed teams to talk to Mike to the end of May, but it will cost any team who signs him a 3rd round pick.  Kinda have to wonder if this new rule imposed wasn't made with Detroit / Babcock in mind?  They got their way with moving to the Eastern Conference also....

 

According to Eklund  Teams of interest include: Sabres, Flyers, Leafs,  Islanders, Oilers, Bruins and the Sharks. 

 

Teams without deep pockets probably need not apply for his services as it will cost teams a minimum of $5M per year which will likely raise a new bar for coaches salaries.  The Salary Cap for the players has removed that inequity, but there is no limit when it comes to bargaining for the best in coaching.

 

Some have been stating that Babcock is also looking for a greater role in an organization beyond just coaching while he has stated he isn't interested in being a GM I find it interesting that Eklund is speculating the demands of President of Operations along with coaching, maybe assistant GM?  Hextall doesn't have an assistant GM...

 

Who wins the sweepstakes and at what price?

 

 

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He is signed until June30th

 

The 3rd rounder can be a 2015 to 2017 so that might not be a big deal then. Really is about where Babby wants to go. The teams in the running are gonna give him the money. The control issue is interesting. Why have a GM if the coach is some sort of VP or head of hockey operations...?

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The guys on TSN 1050 really seem to think he's going to Philly. 

 

Babcock has stated multiple times that he just wants to coach. Eklund, as usual, is just fishing for clicks.

I was kinda thinking that about Eklund. I won't hold my breath for him going to Flyers but it really does seem like a good fit. Maybe just wishful thinking.

 

If he does, what will Flyers fans do!? Goaltending and coaching won't (I hope) be the issue. I guess we can focus on the albatross contracts and some good old fashioned Hommer hating...:)

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You forgot VLC and Umberger, FC.

 

I think it's a longshot - I think he goes back to Detroit first, or either Tronno or Buffalo second.

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San Jose SHOULD go for him, given their current system was blueprinted by his assistant and Wilson claims they want a guy who can work within their current theme of possession.

 

But they won't pay. Plattner is a cheap bugger by all accounts since he took sole ownership, claiming we lose too much money a year due to the TV contract.

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Sadly, I have been sayingBabs to the Leafs for over a year and I still think that is where he is going next year, with Jeff Blaishill being promoted from Grand Rapids to run the big club, he has been groomed for three years to take the job, the same way that the Wings slowly work the players into their role.

 

 Babs in Toronto makes perfect sense. Anywhere else, I think it is just wishful thinking.

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After speaking with Torornto, Babcock was to visit with the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday ( today).

 

Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman said outright that he believes Philadelphia is in the top three of teams with the best chance to land Babcock.

 

 

Ron Hextall’s done a very good job of staying in the cone of silence. But his peers across the NHL believe he has been waiting for this, planning meticulously for the opportunity. You have to think Toronto will make the largest financial offer, but other teams think Philly is going to be up there, too.

What does Babcock think of Claude Giroux, Steve Mason, Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek and their young defencemen not yet in the NHL? Once news began to break that maybe Edmonton was out, Philly became a popular pick for Babcock’s destination.
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My guess is that Babcock stays in Detroit. He's repeatedly mentioned that his family situation and an ability to win, and relationship with ownership/management are his biggest priorities.

 

Philly? Not a winner. No idea about his family.

Buffalo? Not a winner, and I just don't know if Eichel is enough to draw him there. No idea about family.

Edmonton? Not a winner, and even with McJesus they're not going to become strong overnight. He and the family always get back to Saskatoon in the summer, and Edmonton isn't far away.... But that doesn't mean his family would prefer to live in northern Alberta.

Toronto? Not a winner, but I could picture his family being OK with a move there.

Detroit: Easily the best team in the equation, he has a great relationship with ownership/management, and his wife and kids have told him they don't want to move.

 

I think he stays in Detroit, and it doesn't take a ton of reading between the lines to make that guess:

 

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2015/05/red_wings_mike_babcock_not_lea.html

 


"I've got a good GM, a great owner; they offered me an opportunity (to speak to other clubs). I'm going to take advantage of that," Babcock said.

"To be honest with you, my family wants to stay here, my wife and kids."

Babcock reiterated his priorities are winning and his family, not money and personnel control.

 

I think he stays.

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I think he stays in Detroit, and it doesn't take a ton of reading between the lines to make that guess:

 

but isn't the opposite conclusion equally true, i.e. that he certainly has no intention of staying in Detroit, otherwise why go thru this whole process, stringing everybody along? What's the point if he's just going to re-up with Holland?

 

Personally I don't like this whole "I want to be the highest paid coach in NHL history." Maybe I'm reading too much into it, maybe I'm just gun shy after the cosmonaut who made the same statement a few years back (who the Flyers are still paying) but I just don't like hearing that. Babcock's certainly going to get offers that top what anyone else is making so why broadcast it?

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but isn't the opposite conclusion equally true, i.e. that he certainly has no intention of staying in Detroit, otherwise why go thru this whole process, stringing everybody along? What's the point if he's just going to re-up with Holland?

 

I imagine this is one of those cases where he'll see if anybody can knock his socks off. What you're saying could very well turn out to be true; I'm not Carnac The Magnificent after all. My guess is, given what he's said are his priorities, he seems more likely to remain in Detroit. He said that family is most important, and followed it up by saying that his wife and kids want to stay in Detroit. But again, if a team absolutely blows him and his wife away, they may decide to move.

 

Personally I don't like this whole "I want to be the highest paid coach in NHL history." Maybe I'm reading too much into it, maybe I'm just gun shy after the cosmonaut who made the same statement a few years back (who the Flyers are still paying) but I just don't like hearing that. Babcock's certainly going to get offers that top what anyone else is making so why broadcast it?

I could have missed it, but I don't remember Babcock saying anything like that (and it could be that you're stating something which you feel that he's implying). I know that he's publicly that money isn't his #1 priority, because he's going to make major bank with whichever team signs him. His stated preference has been for a team where he can have the opportunity for success, have a good relationship with management, and where his family will be happy to live. Again, if somebody offers him a preposterous contract that Ilitch won't match, he could well take it, but he hasn't publicly said he's demanding to be the highest paid coach.

 

Who IS the highest paid coach, btw? I honestly have no idea, and google seems like a real bore ATM.

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Pegula will be able to outbid anyone. The question is if Babcock's family would enjoy 9 months of Winter in Buffalo.

 

 

I don't think Pegula can outbid anyone. Nobodys going to pay a coach $10 million a year. He's likely going to get about half that, and several teams can pay that, including all the ones previously mentioned as potential suitors.

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but isn't the opposite conclusion equally true, i.e. that he certainly has no intention of staying in Detroit, otherwise why go thru this whole process, stringing everybody along? What's the point if he's just going to re-up with Holland?

 

Personally I don't like this whole "I want to be the highest paid coach in NHL history." Maybe I'm reading too much into it, maybe I'm just gun shy after the cosmonaut who made the same statement a few years back (who the Flyers are still paying) but I just don't like hearing that. Babcock's certainly going to get offers that top what anyone else is making so why broadcast it?

 

 

The difference between Babcock as a coach  and Bryz as a goalie is one is actually very good at what he does, isn't a headcase is well liked by his team and is still relevant.

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I think Toronto will go all out, but unless Babcock is extremely interested in adding GM to Coach in his title (which I could see Shanny offering), why would he pick the Leafs?

 

 

Money I guess. I'm curious: do you (or does anybody else) know if coaches salaries are paid in $USD, like the players? I assume they are, but it's possible that they are not. In which case, that could be a factor.

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I think Toronto will go all out, but unless Babcock is extremely interested in adding GM to Coach in his title (which I could see Shanny offering), why would he pick the Leafs?

 

You're likely correct. Shanahan may offer him the GM job, but Babcock has said that he's not interested in being a manager.

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I don't think Pegula can outbid anyone. Nobodys going to pay a coach $10 million a year. He's likely going to get about half that, and several teams can pay that, including all the ones previously mentioned as potential suitors.

 

agreed... I really dont think this is about money.   Wherever he goes he will be the highest paid coach in the history of the game.   My gut really tells me that he stays in Detroit but I think it is a toss of a coin at this point.   I just hope Hextall has a valid and viable backup plan - where as Homer goes all in to get Suter and Parise ... well, you know the story.

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http://bloguin.com/puckdrunklove/2015-articles/don-cherry-advises-mike-babcock-to-coach-in-san-jose.html

 

 

Where will Mike Babcock coach next season? That’s the question everyone has been debating since the Detroit Red Wings were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Predictions over where Babcock will land have shifted seemingly every time the coach makes a statement to the media.

Don Cherry has a suggestion on where Babcock should head for the next chapter in his coaching career: San Jose.

Via Sportsnet.ca, Cherry offers some advice to Babcock:

“Of all the guys in the world that should tell Babcock what to do, it’s me.

I have some suggestions for him. I would say San Jose. Don’t go to a rebuilding team, it’ll break your heart. You only have one life, enjoy it. Go to San Jose. I bet he goes to San Jose, I think that’s where he’s going to go.”

By a “rebuilding team” it’s pretty clear Cherry is referring to the Toronto Maple Leafs or even the Edmonton Oilers. Instead, Cherry suggests that Babcock should go to a team that’s closer to winning such as the San Jose Sharks.

This isn’t exactly shocking or new advice. If Babcock leaves Detroit and decides to take on a new challenge, it’s doubtful he’ll want to endure a multiple-year rebuild. Instead, he’d likely want to slide in and help a team immediately compete for a Stanley Cup. The Sharks are still missing some pieces required to make a deep playoff run, but they’re a lot closer than the Maple Leafs or the Oilers.

Rofl. I am assuming Don did not hear the Sharks owner's little speech about not wanting to overpay a coach since the team loses money, etc

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