Former Whitley Warrior, Mike Babcock, is scheduled to speak with the San Jose Sharks this week to discuss a possible future with the organization, ESPN.com reported. Babcock, who would like to make a decision about his future by Wednesday, initiated contact with the Sharks, CSNCalifornia.com reported Sunday.
Babcock's contract with the Detroit Red Wings expires June 30. The Red Wings granted Babcock permission to speak with other NHL teams May 8. They want to bring back their coach of the past 10 seasons and were aiming for a resolution by May 25. Babcock told TSN he wanted to make a decision by May 20.
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said there is a compensation letter teams must sign in order to talk to Babcock; any team that hires Babcock would have to give the Red Wings a third-round pick in the NHL Draft within the next three years as compensation. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues have spoken with Babcock, according to Mlive.com.
San Jose have been without a coach since Todd McLellan and the Sharks agreed to part on April 20. McLellan was an assistant coach on Babcock's Detroit staff before leaving for San Jose in 2008.
Babcock said in an interview with Darren Dreger of TSN conducted at the IIHF World Championship in Prague, on Friday, that he expects to reveal his next job within the next week. Babcock told Dreger in an interview conducted at the IIHF World Championship in Prague, Czech Republic. Detroit general manager Ken Holland, also in the TSN interview, had said he was hoping to have Babcock's answer by May 25. The Red Wings on May 8 granted Babcock permission to speak with other NHL teams. Holland said he offered Babcock a contract extension last summer. Babcock has coached the Red Wings for 10 seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008 and losing the Cup Final in 2009. This season, the Red Wings finished third in the Atlantic Division and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a seven-game Eastern Conference First Round series. Babcock reportedly has met with the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs. The New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers and San Jose Sharks also are looking for a coach. The Edmonton Oilers have not committed to coach Todd Nelson and are interviewing candidates, including former Sharks coach Todd McLellan. Holland has not revealed which teams requested permission to meet with Babcock.
Mike Babcock: "The decision date is going to be moved up. I'll bet you by [May] 20, I'm going to know what I'm doing. There's not a better job, there's a different job, so you have to be careful. The Red Wings are an Original Six franchise. That's a special, special thing. I think about the opportunity to win. I think about my family, my time in Detroit. Is change important to invigorate me? I think about lots of things. I've done enough thinking. It's time to make a decision here pretty quick. I'm a big-picture guy, but I'm an immediate-gratification guy too, because I like winning. I have offers. More than one."
Ken Holland: "We're going to have a good coach behind the bench next year. I hope it's [Mike]. The Ilitch family (who owns the Red Wings) has always been very fair with Mike Babcock. Anywhere you go, you'll be paid. I do want to be paid. That's not going to be an issue in Detroit. A third-round pick for a head coach is pretty reasonable."
No comments:
Post a Comment