Babcock On The Clock (sabres)

Thanks, Red Wings TV

For all intents and purposes, the Mike Babcock era ended with a 2-0 loss in Tampa on Wednesday night. What a crappy way to celebrate his 52nd birthday with a heart breaking loss.

It was a double whammy for the Wings in that the Game 7 loss sends them to the cottage for the summer. It also will exacerbate Babcock's inevitable testing of the unrestricted free agency market. The Game 7 loss may well have been the last one of Babcock's illustrious Detroit career.

Babcock officially is an unrestricted free agent head coach at this moment. Babcock will be approached by the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers. The Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues may also enter the Babcock courtship process in the days and weeks to come.

Babcock will get paid handsomely. The NHL owners won't like it but Babcock will be the highest paid head coach in the history of the NHL. It's Babcock's goal to get the maximum annual salary for himself so that it will drive up the wages and salaries for all NHL coaches.

High tide floats all boats.

Tim Murray and the Buffalo Sabres can and will prepare a multi-year contract offer to the tune of $5.5 million to $6 million per year. Money is no object to Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment can also get into a bidding war for Babcock's services.

In his ten seasons in Detroit, Babcock has won a Stanley Cup championship and has qualified for the playoffs ten straight times.

If I'm Detroit owner Mike Ilitch, I don't want Babcock visiting teams around the NHL to get their best offers for me to meet or beat. No way. I have ten years of a relationship with Babs. Were I Ilitch, I would direct my GM Ken Holland to craft and present a proposal to Babcock with an expiration date of 24 hours on on it. If Babcock accepts it, great. If not, we shake hands and we part ways immediately. If you're thinking of leaving you've already left. Ken Holland wanted to sign Babcock to a contract extension last summer, however, Babcock was resistant to sign off on it. Was it his goal to go the UFA route? If so, Babs got what he wanted because he is now the most highly sought after free agent head coaches in NHL history. Babcock will end up signing a 5-6 year deal for $25 million to $30 million total.

Babcock and Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray have a solid working relationship having previously worked together in the Anaheim Ducks organization for three season. Babcock also has strong ties to several higher ups in Terry Pegulas organization. He would be the perfect teacher to mentor Buffalo's young core in Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Rasmus Ristolainen, Zemgus Girgensons, Nikita Zadorov, Mark Pysyk, Jake McCabe, Nic Deslauriers, Mikhail Grigorenko, and Johan Larsson. The Sabres also have a solid veteran core that is comprised of vets Brian Gionta, Josh Gorges, Matt Moulson, Tyler Ennis, Mike Weber, and Marcus Foligno. By comparison, the Red Wings have an aging core whose players are in their mid 30s while the Sabres have one of teh youngest, most skilled player cores in the NHL. This will no doubt factor into Babcock's final decision to leave Detroit to pursue another coaching challenge.

No other NHL owner will come close to the offer that Terry Pegula and Tim Murray will offer to Babcock. They can offer him the same "Rex Ryan Deal" of 5 years and $27 million ($5.5 million per year) that lured the most coveted coach in the NFL to Buffalo. Pegula has no salary cap for his coaches therefore, he can win a bidding war over other suitors who want to get Babcock's signature on a contract.

In his post Game 7 presser, Babcock refused to talk about his future coaching plans.

"Not talking about that now.We'll have a meeting and final press conference, I'll be happy to talk about that crap then."

Its interesting to note that Babcock said of his Red Wings team: "We're not as good as we were".

The Wings have Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill waiting in the wings to take over Babcock's bench in the event that he leaves for mush greener pastures.

In 786 regular season games, Babcock has won 458 games and has lost 223. That's a .649 win percentage. 122 playoff games, Babcock has won 67 and lost 55. That's .549 win percentage.

The contracts of NHL coaches fo not expire until June 30th. The Detroit Red Wings will have the right of refusal on a Babcock UFA contract from another team. Bear in mind, the Wings can always grant Babcock his leave sooner than June 30. Ken Holland will want to get his new coach interviewed fired, and brought up to speed before the NHL Draft in Sunrise, Florida on June 26.

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The pesky Ottawa Senators acquitted themselves very well this season. When their playoff hopes were dashed at the mid season mark, GM Brian Murray fired his head coach Paul MacLean replaced him with Dave Cameron. That coaching move and the promotion of Andrew Hammond to starting goaltender saved the season for the Sens. The Sens were left with no other choice but to start "The Hamburglar". When incumbent starter Craig Anderson suffered chronic, slow-healing hand injury, Robin Lehner took the crease. However, Lehner suffered a serious concussion on Valentines Day. Hammond was the next man up and he destroyed all previous expectations that were placed upon him by Murray, Sens coaches and players and the fans. The undrafted free agent tender threw the Senators on his shoulders and carried the team and its fans on a euphoric run to the playoffs. It truly was a story book ending for Hammond who overcame huge odds and silenced his doubters. Hammond re-branded himself through via his dogged determination and his resiliency. He passed his NHL audition and is about to cash in on a huge long term contract to remain the starting goalie in Canada's capital.

Hammond will become an unrestricted free agent on July. On Wednesday, Senators GM Bryan Murray conducted his end of season presser. In it, he stated emphatically that he intends to offer Hammond to a long term contract to remain in Ottawa.

Hammond went 20-1-2 with a .941 save percentage and 1.79 GAA, during his "tryout period" in the regular season. However,transformed back into a mere mortal in the playoff. Craig Anderson would start the final four games of the first round series loss to the Montreal Canadiens. That hardly matters now because Bryan Murray is confident that Hammond will continue to improve.

Signing Hammond to a long term extension would mean that the Sens will have three goalies under contract heading into the 2015-16 season. Murray said on Wednesday that if/when Hammond signs his extension that he will have to trade either Anderson or Lehner.

My take:

Would would B. Murray stop there? Why not trade both Anderson and Lehner to his nephew Tim Murray and the Buffalo Sabres? Tim presently has only one goalie under contract, Chad Johnson, next season.

Hammond will be the Sens starter for years to come. Bryan Murray is one of four NHL GMs who have been wooing Boston Univesity Terriers free agent goalie Matt O'Connor to his club. Murray will know in the next 5-10 days if O'Connor will be selecting the Sens, Oilers, Rangers, or Bruins. Assuming Bryan Murray lands O'Connor, he will have no need to hold on to Anderson nor Lehner. Anderson has three years remaining on his current deal with an AAV of $3.5 million. Lehner has one year remaining on his deal. Tim Murray can more than afford both Anderson and Lehner. Frankly, he would be wise arrange a trade for both veteran puck stoppers.

When healthy, Anderson is one of the grittiest, reliable goalies in the NHL. He could add immediate credibility and stability to an otherwise uncertain Buffalo goal position. Anders Linback is an unrestricted free agent and will likely be moving on. Anderson went 2-2 in his four games played versus Montreal in the recently concluded first round playoff series against Montreal. He posted a microscopic 0.97 GAA and remarkable .972 save percentage. Anderson only allowed four goals on the 146 shots that he faced. Tim Murray was the Ottawa AGM who executed the Anderson for Brian Elliott trade with Colorado in February 2011.

Lehner was 12-15-6 with a .913 save % last season. Before his injury this season, he was 9-12-3 with a .906 save %. Tim Murray is loyal to Lehner. Murray scouted the now 23 year old when he was with the Soo Greyhounds. Lehner was then starting goalie for the Binghampton Baby Sens that won the Calder Cup in 2010-11. When healthy, Lehner is agile, mobile and hostile. Just the way that Tim Murray likes his goalie's to play.

Brian Murray said Wednesday that Lehner is still experiencing headaches and has been told to “shut it down… for another week. Murray said that if Hammond accepts Ottawa’s offer, “there will be a change with one of the other two guys,… meaning Lehner or Anderson could be moved.

Why not both, eh, Tim Murray?

Tim Murray loves his big goalies and the Anderson-Lehner duo fits that bill to a tee. Anderson is 6'2" and Lehner is 6'5". Murray sent eight seasons in the Ottawa front office. He knows Anderson and Lehner like the back of his hand. They know him, too.

Let's keep an eye on the Sens in the days to come. Hammond will be signing his long term contract to remain in Ottawa. O'Connor may end up in Edmonton or on another team. If that's the case, then B. Murray can keep either Anderson or Lehner, not both, and play them in tandem with Hammond. However, if O'Connor inks his deal in Ottawa. Anderson and Lehner will be looking for a new team(s) to play for.

Why not put the old band back together, eh Tim Murray?

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Props to Buffalo Sabres center Tyler Ennis who scored a slick goal and added a n assist on Claue Giroux's goal in Canada's 4-2 win over Austria on Wednesday. The exhibition game is a tune-up for teh IIHF World Championships that begin on Friday May 1.

Ennis is riding dirty on right wing with Tyler Seguin on left wing and Claude Giroux at center.

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As we await the outcome of Game 7 of the Detroit -Tampa series and the impending fate of Mike Babcock, there are other head coaching candidates on the market right now. Todd McLellan is a big fish. St. Louis head man Ken Hitchcock and Boston bench boss Claude Julien may be joining the list of fired coaches looking for a new job in the days to come.

Since I cover the Buffalo Sabres, my list of five candidates for Ted Nolan's old job includes: Babcock, McLellan, Hitchcock (if fired) Luke Richardson. My dark horse candidate is former Tampa head coach Guy Boucher . My first and only choice to be the next head coach of the Sabres is Babcock.

I understand the need to develop a Plan B and Plan in the event that Babcock stays put in Detroit or signs elsewhere.

Today, Elliotte Friedman added another dark horse head coaching candidate to the list of men whom Sabres GM Tim Murray may be considering for his head coaching vacancy in Buffalo.

It's former Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils bench boss Peter DeBoer. I don't have him on my top five candidates list but I respect Friedman immensely and he tends to be bang on in situations like these.

Friedman:

Murray’s got a few connections that could come into play here. While in Ottawa, he interviewed Peter DeBoer in 2008. DeBoer came close to getting that job, even flying to Barbados to meet with Eugene Melnyk. (Apparently, that didn’t go so well.) Murray likes him. And, don’t forget he played a prominent role in hiring Paul MacLean, too

I'm not shocked to hear DeBoer's name in association with Tim Murray as the two men have had a relationship that dates back several years. I wasn't sure if DeBoer was interested in returning to an NHL bench. He was fired from New Jersey midway through the 2014-15 season. It wasn't that long ago when DeBoer led the New Jersey Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings.

Personally, I like DeBoer as a head coach. He has been lauded as a tough but fair bench boss.

However, one wonders why he failed to complete the task of winning with budget-driven teams in NJ and FLA. Can he motivate l, teach and get max production out of young stars like Eichel, Reinhart, Ristolainen, Girgensons, Grigorenko, Zadorov, Pysyk, McCabe, Deslauriers and Larsson.

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