BabClock (red wings babcock sabres)

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BabClock

By GARTH'S CORNER

May 16, 2015 • 9:50 am

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There were many new takeaways from Darren Dreger’s sit down interview with Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland and his soon-to-be unrestricted free agent head coach Mike Babcock. If I’m being honest, the interview played more like a marriage counseling session. Holland espoused his love and admiration for the great work that Babcock has done for the Red Wings for the past decade. Babcock stroked his GM and owner and said that the Red Wings were the greatest job in the NHL.

Both men said a lot without saying much of anything at all. They were cryptic. They spoke in the past tense. Both referenced the present. Not much thought was given to the future. Holland appeared to be forlorn and sad. Babcock's mouth was dry and he appeared to be nervous.

It started as a mutual admiration society with both men saying what the other man wanted to hear. However, as the twenty five minute conversation unfolded, Holland admitted that he wants to know sooner than later if Babcock is returning next season, otherwise, he is prepared to immediately appoint Babcock’s replacement. To that end, Babcock said that he will inform Holland on or by May 20 what his final decision will be. Is he staying in Detroit? Or, is he shaking Holland’s hand and moving on to his next challenge?

I found it telling that Holland told Dreger that the Red Wings' Czech scout picked up Holland and Babcock and drove them men three hours away to Ostrava to watch Wings top prospect Dylan Larkin and Team USA play earlier this week. One would think that at some point on the six hour round trip that Babcock would have lowered his guard and told his boss which way he is leaning concerning staying in Detroit or leaving for greener pastures. Manversations can be beneficial to long term relationships. Both parties have to be willing to be transparent and forthcoming with their true feelings about one another. In my experience in business, resolutions usually are the result of open, honest dialogue. I didn't get the sense that Holland and Babcock have found that place yet. You see, this relationship is a unique one where Babcock is one one hand Holland's friend and on the other hand he's his employee. Friends don't ask friends if they have work out their welcome. It's rare that NHL head coaches ask their GM that very question. The coach usually finds out that he's worn out his welcome when he is handed a pink slip and a cardboard box full of personal belongings.

Again, I hear a lot of chatter and glad handing between the GM and the head coach, but I don't get the sense that there is a resolution at hand.

Holland:

“He (Babcock) hasn’t told me that and I’ve been with him every day,… Holland said. “He hasn’t given me a decision.…

One gets the impression that Babcock’s refusal to divulge details is irking Holland. These two men have spoken every day for the past ten years. They speak incessantly these days, however, it appears that they are just exchanging words. Like a married couple looking to salvage their relationship, are they just going through the motions? Are they attempting to stay together for the kids? They are amicable and friendly. Their wives and kids get on well together. They have great personal and professional memories together that will last a life time. However, I get the sense that Babcock really enjoys the buzz associated with new endeavors and challenges. He likes putting his stamp on things. He has always loved a good challenge.

It’s got to be an awkward feeling for Babcock to travel the highways between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ostrava to Prague, Czech Republic for hours on end without having a good old fashioned heart to heart conversation with Holland. They talk about fore check systems, prospects, aging vets like Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Kronwall. They discuss goaltending, scouting, and they debate NCAA vs. major juniors. But, it appears that the 1,500 gorilla in the room never gets addressed.

I believe that Babcock is going to leave Detroit. Friday's interview confirmed it for me.

Last summer, Holland offered Babcock a contract extension that would have paid him in the Joel Quenneville neighborhood of $2.95 million per season. Babcock declined it. Here were are eleven months later and still Babcock doesn't have a contract extension in Detroit.

Babcock’s contract will expire on June 30. When the Wings were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for a third time in the last four seasons, Babcock pointed to two elements that he will help him to determine whether or not he stays in Detroit:

Winning. Family.

His Red Wings teams have made first round playoff exits in three of the past four seasons. There are nice players on the farm and several solid ones like Larkin who are on the come. However, Babcock longs for the days when youngsters named Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, Holmstrom, Rafalski, and Kronwall stepped into the Detroit limelight to augment the core group of Yzerman, Lidstrom, Shanahan and Chelios. After his team was beaten in Game 7 by Tampa, an emotional Babcock said that his aging stars need to be supported by dynamic youngsters just like it was in D-Town ten years ago. It's just not happening in the same process or fashion right now. I think that it's eating Babcock alive. Ten years ago, Detroit was the only NHL team that scoured Europe and parts unknown to find diamonds in the rough like "Pav" and "Hank". You can't sand bag in the NHL anymore, Babs. Every NHL team has scouting boots on the ground in Europe and abroad. Today, Holland isn't the only GM flying to the IIHF Wolrd Championships, the IIHF WJCs tourney, the IIHF U18 and U 17 tourneys. Everybody is doing it. Do you want to know why? Because everybody else wanted to be like the Detroit Red Wings. They used the Wings as the template to build the model NHL roster. Imitation is the greatest for of flattery. Holland and Babcock can't surprise any of their NHL peers anymore by having their European scouting wizards Hakan Andersson, Vladimir Havluj, Evgeni Erfilov, Ari Vouri, Nikolai Vakourov by pluck Datsyuks, Zetterbergs and Kronwalls out of Europe with fifth and sixth round draft choices. Those days are gone, my friends. Every NHL scours the highways and bi-ways of Europe in search of the next household names. The Wings now have competition in that arena. What also hurts their rebuilding efforts is that that have won so much under Babcock's tutelage that they don't ever select in the top five picks of the NHL draft where the next young superstars are chosen. Larking was Detroit's 15th overall pick last season. He is a a good player to be sure. Will he be generational like McDavid, Eichel, or Ekblad? The answer is no. When Babcok looks a the Wings' organizational depth chart he sees names like Tatar, Jurco, Nyqyuist, Abdelkader, Sheahan, Pulkkinen, Mantha, Ouelett, Mrzaek and Marchenko. He must be wondering to himself whether he has enough assets to launch an assault on the NHL in the next few seasons. One thing that is front and center in his mind during this decision making process is that he will have to say goodbye to the now 37 year old Datsyuk, 35 year old Zetterberg and 36 year old Kronwall. Which young kids in the Red Wings pipeline can replace these future Hall Of Famers?

The answer is none of them. You don't replace Hall of Famers. Once they leave the game their contributions and crowning achievements live on for posterity.

If Detroit's winning formulas could have be patented, copyrighted, bottled and sold, the Illitch Familiy would be wealthy a million times over today. They were the model franchise, and still are today. However, when members of their hockey family leave and find success elsewhere, their dominance lessens. Look at Steve Yzerman in Tampa. He just knocked out Babs and Holland on his way to the Eastern Conference Finals versus the NY Rangers. Stevie Y built his Bolts and AHL Syracuse reunch in Holland's image and he is producing winners. What more can be said for Scotty Bowman? He's done a fine job assisting his son Stan in building a perennial powerhouse of a dynastic team in Chicago. Like the phoenix, the Blackhawks have rise from the flames. They are now the NHL's model franchise in terms of the way that their roster is constructed. Again, Bowman migrated from Detroit and brought a little bit of Detroit to the Windy City. Former Wings AGM Jim Nill is building a winner in Dallas using Holland's model. It's working.

The change it had to come. We knew it all along.

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

That's one of the reasons why Babcock spent a huge portion of Mother’s Day in Buffalo with the Pegulas. Tim Murray is a fan of the way that Holland and Babcock have created a winning culture in Detroit. Murray is a team builder and he wants to ad the best of the best hockey thinkers and doers to his Sabres organization. He has a blank check and a shopping/ "To Do" list a mile long. The Sabres gave Babcock a thorough and expansive tour of their awesome hockey facilities and the adjoining HARBORCenter complex (ice rinks, restaurants, retail, hotel). Murray is a meticulous manager. He uses every nuance and every advantage he can get on an opponent. He and Babcock are a lot alike in that way. They are constantly in search of perfection. In many ways, Murray night remind Babcock of a younger Holland. Maybe Murray represents the future and the past for Babcock.

After their meeting ended in Buffalo, the Pegulas and Babcock boarded a private plane. Babcock was dropped off in Detroit while the Pegulas flew home to Boca Raton, Florida. Murray knew what he was doing when he invited his former Anaheim Ducks and Cincinnati Mighty Ducks co-worker to Buffalo. Murray wanted to fill Babcock’s head with visions of the hockey future. The Sabres boast of a state-of-the-art facility at First Niagara Center. It won’t be long until Tim Murray will be hosting playoff games in Buffalo. He wanted Babcock to see it all for himself rather than hearing about it over the phone.

On Monday May 11, Babcock left for the IIHF World Championships in the Czech Republic. On Friday May 8, Holland changed his mind and gave Babcok the green light to speak with NHL teams. Babcock then met with Toronto and Buffalo last weekend.

Babcock was asked about his legacy and whether the concept of being a lifetime Detroit Red Wing or to move on and to make a legacy somewhere else. He said that the Wings are an Original Six franchise, and that's a special thing. The opportunity to win is important to him. His family, and his time in Detroit are factors for him to consider.

“My family wants to stay here, my wife and kids,… Babcock said prior to heading overseas. “The Wings have given me the opportunity to talk to other teams and I’m going to take advantage of it. Life is about making good decisions,… Babcock continued. “Sometimes the most comfortable time is when you have no decision. I’ve got a good GM, a great owner, they offered me an opportunity and I’m going to take advantage of that.…

On Friday, Babcock said the he has “done enough thinking.…

He amended his original decision deadline from May 30 to May 20. Babcock will leave Prague on Sunday May 17 and he will finally inform Holland and the Illitch family of his intensions.

“It’s time to make a decision here pretty quick,… Babcock said. “I’m a big picture guy, but I’m also an immediate gratification guy, too, because I like winning. Is change important to invigorate you? I think about lots of things,… Babcock added.

I’m guessing that if he were going to stay in Detroit he would have informed Holland of his decision by now. Try as he might, Holland cannot crawl into Babcock’s head to extract the final decision.

Only Babcock, his wife and kids know the answer to that question.

Babcock is married to Mrs. Babcock, not Ken Holland. Something tells me that Mrs. Babcock will give the thumbs up to to living in Buffalo.

Babcock told Dreger that he has a couple of contract from other NHL teams that hasn't or isn't going through a rebuild like Detroit. Babcock said there are different opportunities but that's all he's going to say, and he's not going to tell people who have offered him deals. He's met people who see things and do things differently, how other people do it and other people think, but the indecision has been the hardest part.

If Babcock leaves Detroit, again, the toughest part will be leaving Holland, leaving Kronwall, Zetterberg and Datsyuk, but when you're deciding to leave or deciding to stay, you're looking ahead, not behind, you get past the end of the year and you start looking ahead.

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Oshawa Generals fans got to witness a milestone achievement when Connor McDavid's OHL career expired when the Gens beat the Otters on Friday night.

The Otters lost the OHL Championship series 4 games to 1.

The Oshawa Generals will rep the OHL at the Memorial Cup.

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