Babcock officially becomes a UFA

[DetDannyWilliams]

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 45m45 minutes ago

DET has granted Mike Babcock permission to talk to other NHL teams. Window open til late May. Doesn't mean Babcock leaving DET, window open.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 43m43 minutes ago

That window opens at 12 noon ET today. So Babcock will gauge interest and then make a decision on his future.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 35m35 minutes ago

Babcock and Holland decided on this course of action while driving to Grand Rapids last weekend. DET obviously wants Babcock back...

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 34m34 minutes ago

...and Babcock has by no means ruled out DET but he does want to gauge interest from other teams before making decision by end of May.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 32m32 minutes ago

Babcock is going to World Championships on Monday to see DET prospect Dylan Larkin but execs from other NHL clubs there, too. Here we go.

[Skooby]

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 45m45 minutes ago

DET has granted Mike Babcock permission to talk to other NHL teams. Window open til late May. Doesn't mean Babcock leaving DET, window open.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 43m43 minutes ago

That window opens at 12 noon ET today. So Babcock will gauge interest and then make a decision on his future.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 35m35 minutes ago

Babcock and Holland decided on this course of action while driving to Grand Rapids last weekend. DET obviously wants Babcock back...

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 34m34 minutes ago

...and Babcock has by no means ruled out DET but he does want to gauge interest from other teams before making decision by end of May.

Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie · 32m32 minutes ago

Babcock is going to World Championships on Monday to see DET prospect Dylan Larkin but execs from other NHL clubs there, too. Here we go.

Pegs needs to get his checkbook out & lets wrap this up.

[JATMtheJATM]

hes not a UFA til july 1. wings just gave him the ok to talk to other teams.

[Dude]

He can be hired before July 1, but the Wings would get a 3rd rounder as compensation.

[JATMtheJATM]

I'm ok with that. Sabres have plenty.

[DetDannyWilliams]

something else I remember Babcock giving an interview before the Wings played the Sabres here and he was asked if Buffalo was becoming Hockeytown after the Detroit paper published an article http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nh...nter/18799163/ and he said he was in awe with Harbor Center

[ckg927]

Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet said much the same thing that McKenzie did, but added that Babcock turned down a deal from Detroit that would have made him the highest-paid NHL coach...even higher than the Blackhawks' Joel Quenneville.

[DetDannyWilliams]

With NHL teams seeking Blashill, Wings want Babcock situation resolved quickly



With NHL teams already seeking the Red Wings' permission to speak with Grand Rapids coach Jeff Blashill, the Detroit club is in no position -- or mood -- to let negotiations with Mike Babcock drag into a second week. Blashill, whose Griffins play a series-deciding fifth game against Toronto tonight in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs, is the Wings' Plan B. There is no Plan C"

Much beyond that and it becomes a burden," Wings Senior Vice President Jim Devellano said Sunday. "There are other people involved in this, like Jeff Blashill. People want to talk with him. We like Jeff. He's been a good soldier for us. And if Mike stays with us in Detroit, we want Jeff to go to the NHL where he belongs."

http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/sto...quickly-050315

[JATMtheJATM]

Griffins are in the second round against rockford! I know, cause I went to game 2 tonight. Griffins won.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Vogl retweeted this...Ken Holland was on TSN 1040 Says he'd like Babcock back but is giving him the opportunity to explore other options. Also says Blashill is not being given permission to talk to other clubs.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Allowing Babcock to immediately speak to other teams advances the process and the timing, which is important for both the head coach -- Babcock doesn’t want to drag this on forever -- and the Red Wings, who can’t wait forever to figure out their head-coaching position.

More to the point, the Wings have a very strong head-coaching prospect: AHL bench boss Jeff Blashill.

Hence the understanding between Babcock and Holland is that the coach has a soft deadline of May 25 to talk to other teams and decide whether he wants to stay in Detroit or leave, because the Wings can’t leave Blashill twisting in the wind all summer. Blashill would be among the Red Wings' top choices to replace Babcock, but if Babcock stays, other NHL teams will want to interview Blashill, no question about it.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/i...bcock-decision

[DetDannyWilliams]

Update: A source told the Associated Press Friday the Sabres are moving forward in their attempts to woo Babcock.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland knows his team will have a very good coach next season. He’s also pretty certain it won’t be Mike Babcock. That’s why after the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and a couple of other teams called about getting permission to speak with his soon-to-be-free-agent coach, Holland knew exactly what to do.

So last Sunday, he and Babcock took a drive to Grand Rapids to watch the Red Wings AHL team in the playoffs. Holland told Babcock teams had been calling and asked whether Babcock wanted to start negotiations on a new deal with the Wings or explore the market. And Babcock told Holland he wanted to see what was out there.

All of which means there’s a pretty slim chance Babcock will be behind the bench in Detroit next season. Overwhelming chances are he’ll go somewhere else – with Edmonton out of the gate as the early favorite – and Jeff Blashill, the Red Wings rising star in the minors, will be the new man. Holland is well aware a guy usually doesn’t go this far down the road just to return to his old stomping grounds.

“In this industry, when people become unrestricted free agents, the odds of them moving on are probably greater of them moving on,” Holland said. “Certainly that’s the risk we run, but at the end of the day, my feeling is I want to work with Mike Babcock, but my management style is to treat people with respect. Mike wants the opportunity to explore the market so Mike, you’ve got the opportunity to explore the market. I think he’s happy here. He wants to see if he can be happier elsewhere.”

There’s no doubt Holland would prefer to have Babcock back, which is why he offered Babcock a four-year deal last fall and again in January. But when he gets to training camp next season, he also wants to look down a bench and see a coach, whoever it is, who wants to be there for the long-term. After 10 years in the same place, even as successful as it’s been for the Red Wings, perhaps Babcock simply needs a change of scenery.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/red-wings-will-lose-mike-babcock-and-theyll-be-just-fine/

[JATMtheJATM]

blashill is a hell of a coach. id almost like him over babcock. not because hes better, not yet. but hes younger and hes extremely successful, and is likely the next superstar coach. guy just gets results.

[DetDannyWilliams]

This is a case where Babcock the brand would be more important for Buffalo than Babcock the coach. Landing Babcock, the biggest free agent on the market would open up so many doors for Pegula, Murray and the Sabres. All eyes would see that Buffalo is now a desirable place to go for all players looking to sign as UFAs or be traded with no trade contracts.

It would also signal that the rebuild will be done right as Babcock is not signing on for a slow burn type build for the team. I would expect a ROR type trade, a legit goalie and an experienced quality defenceman being brought in or atleast everything possible to make these acqusitions happen.

I like Blashill and some of the others, but landing Babcock might be the most important part of the rebuild in terms of attracting other important pieces.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Matthew Coller @MatthewWGR · 2h2 hours ago

I'm hearing Mike Babcock is meeting with the Buffalo Sabres today

[DetDannyWilliams]

Paul Hamilton @pham1717 · 11m11 minutes ago

So far we know the Sabres and the Leafs have received permission from Det to speak with Babcock.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Is it going come down to Pegula's vs. MLSE again I'm feeling good about this, Pegula's are 1-0 against MLSE they tried to buy the Bills and failed miserabley, Pegula won't be outbid.

[DetDannyWilliams]

Paul Hamilton @pham1717 · 55m55 minutes ago

Just as they were with Rex Ryan, Kim and Terry Pegula are front and center with Babcock. Murray or course involved too.

[DetDannyWilliams]

John Vogl @BuffNewsVogl · 34m34 minutes ago

John Vogl retweeted Eric Morano
HarborCenter employee says Mike Babcock is touring facility with Pegulas and Tim Murray.
John Vogl added,
Eric Morano @91EricMoranoMike Babcock sighting at Harbor Center #Sabres