OT- Mike Babcock destination

Submitted by JonnyHintz on
There have been rumors floating around all season about Mike Babcock and his potential departure from Detroit. He has been touted as the savior of Toronto and, more recently, Edmonton. He has been talked about as potentially coaching Pittsburgh and rejoining Crosby after their gold medal runs. Will he remain in Detoit? Head north? Will he be a Penguin? Is it going to be about the money or the best situation? He is undeniably a top 5 coach in the NHL and arguably the very best. No doubt he could coach just about anywhere. Realistically, what do you expect him to do?
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clarkiefromcanada

April 10th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^

Take off your Wings fan glasses. If people think Toronto won't be a realistic option or a serious factor in this thing then they are delusional. Toronto can offer roster control (by eliminating Dave Nonis) which Babcock won't ever get with Detroit and they have the ability to pay him ridiciulous amounts of money with term (neither Pittsburgh or Edmonton have these types of resources). Is that the right move? Hard to say. On the other hand, the guy who actually wins consistently with the Leafs will be sainted like a combination of Bo/Return of Harbaugh (only more sainted and twice as beloved).

Joined: 11/20/2008

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fritZ

April 10th, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^

I don't think it's an unreasonable belief to think he'll stay in Detroit. That's not a homer opinion. Might he leave for Toronto? Sure. But Detroit treats him well, he has upper management who know how to draft and develop, and he has a say in everything. It's not like Wings fans are bitching that he needs to go because we haven't won the Cup in a few years. He's not going to be "sainted" like he might in Toronto, but he is beloved in Detroit none-the-less. There are legitimate reasons to think he'll stay beyond just Wings fans' homerism.

Joined: 03/21/2009

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LooseLaces16

April 10th, 2015 at 3:28 PM ^

Toronto is a realistic landing spot for Babcock it's YOU who is delusional.

First of all Toronto is the laughing stock of the NHL and has one of the most insatiable and predatory media markets in sports. Second, you obviously don't know much about the relationship between Babcock and Shanahan...to put it lightly, they're not big fans of one another. Third, not even Babcock could turn what Toronto has into a winning team let alone build a consistent winning culture.

They have no goalies, brutal defense, not a single useful forward beside JVR and Kessel, and no future stars save for maybe Morgan Reilly. That entire organization, along with the Toronto sports media, is a downright disgrace to hockey and Uncle Mike isn't going to ride in on his white stag and put the fire out any time soon.

Joined: 08/06/2011

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clarkiefromcanada

April 11th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^

Says a guy with a Wings photo in his profile. Toronto can offer him money, term and control. If Shanahan is willing to move Nonis and give Babcock personnel control this is a very different situation for him. I do not think he would come to Toronto in a million years for anything less than huge money, term and total personnel control.

The current state of the Leafs roster is, evidently, terrible but control and money might inform a different set of decisions for Babcock. That's not delusion, it's fact. Of course the Toronto media is focused on hockey; despite the brutal nature of the Leafs for a thousand years the passion of that fanbase is unmatched. I'm old enough to have lived in Windsor in the 80's and recall the 80's and early 90's Wings teams (see Larson, Reed) and the very empty Tampa like JLA. Those teams, and the Wings in general, were as bad as this generation of the Leafs. I find the arrogance of Wings fans of the current era kind of amusing given this parallel.

Bottom line, if Babcock were to come to Toronto and win he'd be sainted. He can't ever achieve anything like that in Detroit. I think he probably doesn't go to Toronto but he'd have compelling reasons to think about it.

Joined: 11/20/2008

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Tagg

April 10th, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^

But that seems their best selling point since they might be headed to a full rebuild. I think Dion Phanuef has better chance of being a Red Wing than Babcock uprooting himself to Toronto. He and his family are pretty ingrained in the Plymouth/Northville community so it would have to be an unreal offer to get him to bolt. 

Joined: 09/02/2008

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BlueLava009

April 10th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^

I cant see him leaving Detroit.  All those young guys he basically brought into the league...Smith, Nyquist, Abs, Helm, Mrazek, Dekyser, Kindle, Tatar, Jurco, Sheahan, now Pulkinan, Ferria, etc.. (sorry on spelling)... Plus he has so much young talent waiting in Grand Rapids, Europe and at MICHIGAN.  He's been a Detroit guy for over a decade, and Detroit is basically Canadian when it comes to hockey....How could he leave..

Joined: 07/20/2014

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Sac Fly

April 10th, 2015 at 12:01 PM ^

Toronto and Edmonton are not close to competing. In fact, fans and media in both cities pretty much screwed themselves out of any chance to land a top tier coach.

The Wings on the other hand are trending up. Why would he want to leave?

Joined: 04/03/2010

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JonnyHintz

April 10th, 2015 at 12:06 PM ^

Could be getting bored in Detroit. It happens. Sometimes coaches leave just for the sake of leaving. He's Canadian, so he could want to return home and coach a Canadian team that he grew up watching. Then there's also the money factor. If a team is willing to throw a significant amount of money at him, there's no telling if he would take it. Believe it or not, it isn't always about how a team is trending.

Joined: 01/11/2015

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The Mad Hatter

April 10th, 2015 at 12:39 PM ^

Canada is right over there.  He can probably see it from his office.

2nd, if he wants more money, I'm sure Illitch is willing to pay it.  Look how much he's spending on the Tigers.  Dude obviously wants a few more championships before the long nap.

I'd honestly be surprised if Babcock leaves.

Joined: 02/17/2015

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JonnyHintz

April 10th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^

Illitch is spending a lot of money on the Tigers. On the Red Wings new arena. On the Red Wings already. Not saying he couldn't afford to do it. But is he willing to do it? Blashill looks to be a solid replacement if need-be. Would he be willing to pay an extra $2-$3 million a year for Babcock? Who knows? I'm sure the Tigers would have enjoyed having Torii Hunter around another year. But not for the money the Twins were willing to pay. Illitch can afford it, doesn't mean it's always the smartest way to spend money. Also, Canada may be "right over there," but Windsor isn't exactly the prettiest thing to look at. He could want to go a little deeper. Say Toronto perhaps? A full 5 hours away from Detroit. Can't see that from his office. Not saying he is going to leave. But it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Joined: 01/11/2015

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GoBlueinMN

April 10th, 2015 at 12:01 PM ^

I think it all depends on what he wants. If he wants the most money, he probably stays in Detroit or goes to Toronto (which, IMO, are his two likeliest destinations). I highly doubt he is going to get control over player peronnel decisions in Detroit, so that could be something another team could offer to lure him away, if that is what he is interested in.

Joined: 01/29/2010

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MaizieGoBlue

April 10th, 2015 at 12:12 PM ^

the guy left SoCal to come to Detroit. winning is obviously his top priority, so I think that leaves Toronto and Edmonton out. That leaves Pittsburgh, and the ego of the NHL, and I don't know if he would want to deal with that . I think his options are stay in Detroit, or take a year off and reevaluate and recharge

Joined: 11/18/2011

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Frequency

April 10th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^

I just had a co-worker here in New York tell me that Buffalo(!) fans are pushing to get Babcock. The sabers have been purposely tanking so they can get the top draft pick. I wouldn't want to coach a team with that kind of culture.

Joined: 01/10/2011

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Frequency

April 10th, 2015 at 1:45 PM ^

If I had to compare, I think Buffalo is more similar to the Dave Brandon or Jed York situation that a coach would never want to be a part of. Bufallo got a new owner a few years back who came in, spent a lot of money, made expensive acquisitions, and sold people off... And obviously none of it worked because the sabers are still terrible. His next strategy seems to be tank to get the next "Sidney Crosby" to save his organization. I would much rather work for Illich and Ken Holland than deal with an owner trying to tweak and control everything.

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